Froggy, Froggy

Ottery Community Theatre

Froggy Froggy

As seen by: Brian Rees for Tricia Barclay, District 6 Representative on 25th Jan. 2019

Director and Writer: Laurie Palmer

The Institute, Ottery St. Mary

There was a time when pantomime meant one of seven traditional stories but in recent years budding writers have created new stories. However, Froggy, Froggy had all the traditional pantomime features; a principal boy played by a girl, a grotesque dame, two good fairies and a wicked witch, a transformation, the forces of good and evil, a tap-dancing mouse and much comedy from four frantic firemen clearly inspired by the Keystone Cops who were inspired by the slapstick of commedia del'arte! I felt I was watching a real pantomime.

There was no plethora of local references to be understood by only by the locals. We were set firmly in toyland for the whole evening as the toys came to life and told their story.

Writer and director, Laurie Palmer, is to be congratulated on a script full of humour and visual comedy. At times some of the dialogue was too fast and voices did not carry well, especially when the characters were on the rear platform where the drapes absorbed the sound, but the pace of the action was good and we were never allowed to get bored. I do have one little gripe. A good dame is essential to a pantomime and here we had a wonderful character, well-honed and full of energy, but I do think it a mistake for the dame to use a falsetto voice. We know that it is a man in a woman's costume and the male voice makes the bizarre character even funnier.

Costumes were excellent. There were twenty eight individual characters on stage each with his or her style appropriate to the character. Well done. 

Scenery was simple and effective and the new backdrop was beautifully painted. The backstage crew worked silently and efficiently so that the action was never held up. The lighting and sound team were always on cue.

When the band appeared in their black shirts and black trilby hats I did wonder if they were members of the OSM mafia, but the music was sure, the tempi good and never once did they overpower the voices. There was a definite empathy with the singers.

Thank you, Ottery Community Theatre, for a splendid evening’s entertainment.

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