Babes in the Wood

HATS have set a high standard with their Summer pantos and the challenge is, of course, to maintain it.  There was no problem in that respect as, from the opening curtain, this was a highly professional and enjoyable production.  The Director, Ian Thompson, obviously takes this art form very seriously and it showed within a fairly young cast with excellent leadership from Ian who gave his usual fine performance of the Dame, this time Dolly Dumpling.

Another thing that is always done well here is to keep the musical numbers short which makes to pace of the performance really flow.  Perhaps the show it was a little too long but it was no less fun.

Molly Thompson and Olivia Thompson were very funny as Sammy Slap and Tilly Tickle and presented their lines and gags extremely strongly, especially in the window scene.

Anna Bant was just right as Robin Hood and, as Marian, Mabel Moon worked very nicely with her.  Megan Wilson was a very likeable Fairy and Max Joy gave a very good performance as the bad Sheriff of Nottingham, gaining the right rapport with the audience and, importantly, listening to their response.  All his Merry Men also worked well as a team.

A special mention must be made of the babes, Joe Jenney as Tommy and Maisy Wilson as Jane.  Here were two excellent performances showing good voices, movement and timing which bodes very well for the future.  I’m sure that Archie Armstrong , who played Tommy at some other performances, was equally promising.

As always at Hornsea the costumes were superb and, also true to form, the choreography worked well and everyone on stage was enjoying themselves.  This was infectious.

All in all a good Summer of weekly frolics in Hornsea.

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