Blackmore's Got Panto! Review

I am always impressed by those who are self-reliant, being fairly dependent on others myself. The ability to design, construct and paint scenery and make good quality costumes is wonderful but to write the script for your very own pantomime is something else again. Not only did this production include all the usual formulae expected in a pantomime - the dame, the stupid duo, principal boy and girl, love interest, pantomime horse, catchphrases, community singing, a UV scene, young children as fairies and animals and a baddie in black that we could boo and hiss at - but also the central theme was brought right up to date by using reality television as the driver for much of the plot. Using Pantoland as the backdrop for the pantomime characters was clever and allowed all members of the cast to have a character and a colourful costume. The rhyming couplets used by Fairy Nearly, as narrator, were witty and new but kept to the spirit of traditional pantomime. Some of the dialogue and stage business veered off-piste occasionally but probably worked successfully at both a child and adult level. This was an enjoyable modern take on the pantomime genre that could have been even more so had it been judiciously pruned by 30-40 minutes. There were no scenes that were extraneous but each scene could have been trimmed by 4-5 minutes, making for a pacier production. On many occasions I felt it was time to move on, the joke had been played out and yet there was one more verse or one more variation. Nevertheless, this was a strong production with a good cast. Time and space precludes a comprehensive review but all credit to Jack Jollity (Sandra Marriott) and “Simples” Simon (Phil Davis) who were consistently strong and audible throughout. I loved Mrs Pushy (Irene Davis) and Fairy Small (Jenny Pavitt) and thought Tiddles the cat (Glenys Young) did a fine job. Congratulations to all.
Stewart Adkins - NODA

There are 26 days to go until the Blackmore Players production of Mystery At Greenfingers

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