Christmas was extended in Milford on Sea due to the Community Centre Pantomime taking place over last weekend. The local village cast gave four sell out performances of 'Beanstalks & Pumpkins', written by our local amateur impresario’s, Penny & Bob Bishop, with a helping hand from Marguerite Willcox. The village’s first pantomime was a definite smash hit with all that came along.
As tradition has it, many of girls in the cast were dressed as men, with some men dressed as women (& some of the guys seemed surprisingly comfortable in their reversed roles!) We do know that Sue & Sean were in the ‘Panto Cow’, but how Sean drew the short straw for the ‘back end’ we are not so sure! (& it is probably best not to know!) Cinderella was played with great charm by the delightful Katherine Sim. There were also many fine performances, and seeing Hugh Whitlock our village solicitor as a rather convincing ‘dodgy pedlar’ was irony at its finest. Some fine character names of ‘Hermaphrodite Hardup’ & ‘Transvestia Hardup’ were created for Maurice & John, performing as the Ugly Sisters. As you may imagine from those names there was also a smattering of hidden ‘grown up’ entertainment for the adults. In fact, on the whole, most of the adults immediately reverted to childhood as they enthusiastically cried out ‘He’s behind you’, and other random & sometimes hilarious heckles!
The village’s ability to draw keen amateurs to jump on stage and put in fine Panto performances, is a testament to both our community spirit and the abundance of local talent. It is only a shame that we cannot mention them all by name here, however everyone did a fine job! The kids from Zapp School of Dance were enthusiastic & enthralling in their roles as elves, mice & dancers, and helped make the show a great success. However, Cameron Howard, as Jack Skint was far too young, talented & good looking for my liking. It was evident that a lot of hard work was done by all involved onstage & behind the scenes, and all the effort proved worthwhile when around 600 people passed through the doors of Milford on Sea Community Centre, and then left having been thoroughly entertained. Roll on next year!
Panto’s End
ReplyDeleteOur Panto’s now come to an end,
Now we no longer do pretend,
Our characters must now leave,
Back to the land of make-believe.
The ugly sisters are still looking,
For short-sighted men who can do the cooking,
And Mrs Hardup is feeling unharmonious,
With two lovely daughters not matrimonious.
The queen has now to cope,
With a king, who has spoke,
He is determined to be heard,
So now she can’t get in a word.
After Tiny with cow pie is fed,
Mrs Biggun has put him to bed,
So she can get a well-earned rest,
For she has done her level best.
The randy cockerel is doing well,
Now with a partner who is ‘just swell’,
And as for that ungrateful cow,
Daisy is in pieces now.
The town crier has said his last oyez
But he’ll be back another day,
The pedlar too has come up trumps,
And Mrs Skint is out of the dumps.
The bag lady gave her last twirl,
And now the prince is in a whirl,
Thigh-slapping days are done,
Now that he has found the one.
Cindy and Jack are now wed,
A lovely couple, it must be said,
Let’s hope it is forever after,
Or our next panto could be a non-starter.
Elves, mice and dancers were real cool,
But now it’s time to go back to school,
And Mr Magic had upped sticks,
After wibbley, wobbley magic tricks.
The musicians and choir have gone,
And the ‘backroom’ boys have now done,
Props, scenery and costumes returned,
Thanks prompter if we hadn’t learned.
But please let’s not be too sad,
It really isn’t all that bad,
Let’s raise our glasses and give a cheer,
And look forward to next year.
To Bob, Penny and Marguerite,
You have written a real treat,
So now we know it can be done,
Please write us another one.
Mary Wheatley (Mrs Biggun)