Jolly pantomine is laced with local history...
Grasmere Players continue to attract an impressive range of actors and this winter’s production is no exception.
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Literary laughs Jolly pantomine is laced with local history... |
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Take the substantial history of Grasmere, get local resident Richard Hardisty to look at it through pantomime eyes,
ask talented local actors to join in, open the doors to an audience and the scene is set for an evening of mirth
and jollity. Grasmere Players continue to attract an impressive range of actors and this winter’s production is no exception. |
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The Lion, The Lamb and the Magic Scones has a bit of every pantomime tradition, all laced with local references and
jokes. Firstly the good fairy (Vivienne Rees) still had the power to right wrongs, but with 21st century doubts. Then there was ‘ahh’ factor: more than a dozen singing and dancing young people. There was also a duo of heroines: Miss Sarah (Beth Routledge as the hard-working schoolteacher) and any Ellie Nelson as a thigh-slapping Prince Sandalhof. |
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And there were panto dames in excellent busting-out form: Paul Nelson as Annie Nelson and ‘her’ sister Gladys Shufflebottom
(Richard Hardisty). The agricultural interest was delightfully played by John Coombe as the effete lion, Dandy, and two lambs Shaun and Sheila, (Jenny and Michael Rhodes in good ‘baaing’ form), who all go off to live up Helm Crag. |
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A pair of baddies were intent on stealing land to turn it over to parking and gain a fast buck – Grabitt (Richard Baker)
and Blunder (Richard Beskeen). Although the baddies come to rob, the literary trio of William Wormsearth (Hugh Wright, in fine form), Dolly (perfectly characterised by Hilary Beskeen and Partly Cartilage (Trevor Eastes) almost steal the show. Always appearing as a mad trio they were a delight. |
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Literary history will never seem the same again. Excellent costumes and scenery, songs aplenty, live piano accompaniment, magic scones in the interval. And of course a happy ending. What more could a panto-goer want? Except more… more! |
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Pam Williamson The Westmorland Gazette, Friday 4th Janaury 2008. |
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