RED RIDING HOOD

RED RIDING HOOD

St Andrew's Youth Fellowship at Sandon Village Hall

21.02.13

The last panto in the shop, and an unusual one, by Richard Hills, set in the Tyrol, but still including all those favourite moments: the "behind you" routine, the audience song, the good fairy and the wedding walk-down.

So we booed the baddies – secret policemen as well as the excellent Horrible Hilda, Witch of the Woods, of Charlotte Dack – guarded Idle Jack's basket and Fairy Twinkle's pot, sang possibly the shortest ever panto song, and were rewarded with the traditional shower of sweets.

Some lovely performances this year, from the tiniest [Abbi Flack's charming Twinkle and Harvey Cooper's winsome Wolf] to the most experienced [Jessica Moore's likeable Idle Jack with Nicola Mori as his Liesl]. Lots of comedy, especially from the formidable duo of Ella Cooper and Rachel Head as Gerty and her Count. The title role – Maria, in this version – was engagingly played by Jessica Bailey, and her Prince was confidently done by Conor Hicks, last year's Buttons, who had a no-nonsense way of wooing his love, and knew how to handle a show-stopping song, too.

The music was purloined from all over the place: shows from Scrooge to South Pacific, artists from Nat King Cole to the Temptations. The Musical Director was James Tovey, and the show was produced and directed by Peter Ellis, with sets designed and painted by Adam Delf.

ALI BABA 

AND THE FORTY THIEVES

SAYF at Sandon Village Hall

22.02.11

Once upon a time, youth clubs did amateur theatricals along with table-tennis and trips to the sea-side.

Sandon is a proud survivor from those distant days, and this year's Ali Baba, with its seven thieves and Nativity Play ethos, had all the strengths and weaknesses we've grown used to over the years.

Too many prompts, lighting by luck, noisy scene changes. But gorgeous costumes and scenery, great musical support, and a warm community spirit [sponsored by Asda].

A large cast – the youngest just seven years old – had dependable dame Laurence Green as Fatima, and Sophie Cooper [Mustapha] relishing her one-liners and the inevitable sing-along. Some fine classical acting from Sebastian Pountney [Asbad] and an impressive double from Nicola Mori as the Prince and the evil Alsatia, half of a David-and-Goliath struggle with good feline fairy Caterina [Sarah Diwell].

Jade Cooper had a strong presence in the title role, and there were promising performances from Poppy Quy Watkins as the Sultan, Matt Diwell and Emily Flack as the scoundrels, and Maddie Warner-Lodge as a poised Princess Jasmine.

James Tovey's music included Happy Talk and Comedy Tonight, as well as Eastern panto favourites like Supermarket in Old Peking and the Old Bazaar in Cairo.

Alan P Frayn's original script is awash with ancient jokes and puns, enjoyed by players and punters alike.

Ali Baba was produced and directed by Peter Ellis.

HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME

St Andrew's Youth Fellowship

Sandon Village Hall

20.02.10

Close behind Waltham's Frankenstein in the preposterous panto stakes, comes SAYF's Hunchback, a very long way after Hugo and Disney.

Produced and directed by Peter Ellis, it featured ultra-violet dancing skeletons in the Catacombs, talking gargoyles, as well as valued traditions like the competitive singalong and the flying sweets, and the best panto exit line this season: “See you later, boys and girls, I've got to get ready for the hanging ...”

The original music had been replaced with bankers from Broadway – Avenue Q, Oliver, Fame, Hairspray, and a little more appropriately, Les Misérables.

Sophie Cooper had a lively personality as Gringore, and Laurence Green was the dame again, this time busty patronne Fe Fe La Large. Katherine McKeon looked great as the gypsy Esmerelda, and sang and danced well, too. My favourite number, though, was the duet by Molly Harris's Yvette and Jessica Moore's Quasimodo.

The beautiful set - Notre Dame in grisaille – was by Adam Delf, and the Musical Director was James Tovey.

This annual fund-raising panto is a welcome reminder of the days when all youth groups – and many others – would work for months to put on a show. Long may it thrive, but could we have something a little more traditional next year ?