GRETA GILBERT

GRETA GILBERT

Greta Gilbert, a former member of BHOS, played leading roles in 20 of our shows between 1964 and 1981, most of these at the Theatre Royal but also the Hippodrome, the Palace Pier Theatre and the Gardner Centre; also as Principal Boy in 8 of our popular pantomimes at the Dome.

Greta's husband John Flanders (who pre-deceased her by some years) was also a core member of BHOS during those years and together they would travel into Brighton from their home in Tunbridge Wells for weekly rehearsals and each day for performances.
John played supporting roles in most of Greta's shows, but also came into his own as a leading man: Dr Falke (Die Fledermaus), Tommy (Brigadoon), Harold Hill (The Music Man), Capt. Von Trapp (The Sound of Music), Beauregard (Mame), even Bill Sykes (Oliver); and comedy roles in Panto including one as Dame!

Greta mostly played glamorous and/or flamboyant roles (sometimes twice) as Anna Glavari (The Merry Widow), Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus) Duchess of Plaza Toro (The Gondoliers), Nancy (Oliver), Mrs Bardell (Pickwick), Aunt Alicia (Gigi), Lalume (Kismet), and Mrs Squuezum (Lock Up Your Daughters) - but also the deeper roles of the Mother Abbess (The Sound Of Music), Lady Thiang (The King & I) and notably Golde (Fiddler On The Roof)

A mis-print of her name in the cast list of a 1975 programme gave her as GREAT Gilbert! This became a standing joke, but in fact wasn't so very far from the truth - for she had a great voice and a great personality.

Friends from BHOS who attended her funeral in Tunbridge Wells recently were touched to find her photo on the cover of the service sheet with her trademark feather headdress and a big smile, and that she was conveyed in style in a vintage black-plumed horse drawn vehicle.

Evelyn Hale
Society Archivist
May 2007