Harry Potter and the Curse of The Christmas Goblin

 I love the community buzz when you arrive at this venue and the warm welcome is second to none. This company always write their own script and inevitably it is linked to something familiar which brings the whole show together and with a local touch you are guaranteed an excellent evening of intrigue and entertainment. This year the umbrella under which the show was showcased was ‘Harry Potter’ and very cleverly written and scripted by Ray and Jay Kowling!!!! Yet another twist Mr.Price and your pub cronies! I have to admit knowing nothing at all about ‘Harry Potter’ having never read a book or seen a film so was not sure what to expect. However the friend who was with me was bowled over by all scenes and what they portrayed and could recognise each character and was very impressed. With her running commentary I quickly became engaged and followed the plot with great interest, anticipation and thorough enjoyment.  As ever good staging, excellent sets, props, lights and sound and slick scene changes by Stage Manager Mary Walker and her crew; the panto raced on at a steady pace with the usual hilarity causing great laughter from audience. The costumes were excellent under the imaginative team led by Grace Aynsley. Every aspect of these pantos from script to audience is all done in house and the society are to be congratulated for this.            

The panto opened with a very nice dance by the ‘Hogwarts Students’ and was very realistic in both costume and backdrop. It would be very difficult to single out characters as they were all so good and there were so many of them; they kept the stage flowing with interest and backed the ‘Harry Potter’ trio with such gusto and were so realistic in their portrayal of whom they represented. Well done everyone!  I read up about ‘Harry Potter’ when I got home and was amazed at how well you all created this story to include all the characters and develop them into local plot.

Special mention must go to ‘Harry Potter’ Dave Francis, ‘Ron Weasly’ Felicity Andrews and ‘Hermoine Granger’ Lexie Towers. Such a lot to learn and all delivered with confidence and very good stage presence. Lexie Towers took over at very short notice the part of ‘Hermoine Granger’ and is to be congratulated for an amazing performance in having to learn such a lot in a very short time.  No Panto goes without having a ‘Dame’ to cause havoc and hilarity and in this show we had double trouble! ‘Wishy’ Dave Hindmarsh and ‘Washy’ Dave Price stole the show on every entrance. They were indeed a very funny duo and worked well together bouncing off each other with ease and engaging the audience at every opportunity.

This production by this group whisked us away to the land of panto with their usual enthusiasm and dedication, leaving us in no doubt what a wonderful part of the local community they are in giving everyone a night to remember. They had great rapport with audience and the entire cast kept the action going throughout the whole evening. Deservedly a huge congratulations to all involved and here’s to the next one.  Cannot imagine what you will follow this up with but I am sure it will be just as quirky and dynamic with the usual twists and turns to confuse and delight us as this one did by the response of the audience and the buzz with which they left the venue.

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