Hickory Dickory Dock

This was a good old fashioned story based on the nursery rhyme and written by the well-known Norman Robbins.
It had the Colaton Raleigh style about it that makes this annual event something that the community looks forward to from one year to the next.
The cast were splendidly dressed in colourful costumes. The scenery was excellent, especially given such a small stage. Congratulations to Tim Pink on a great job.
The chorus put everything into it and sang well, we had Chris Silverthorne as Baron Hickory the typically nasty squire who treats the villagers as rotten peasants. He made a successful job of it getting the boos!  Alongside a very bossy Baroness Hickory, Doreen Kociuba and their nasty and stupid son Herbert, ably portrayed by Judith Constable, complete with freckled face, this was truly the family from Hell
Paul Hyman as Willie Winkie had the difficult job of delivering all the corny and time tested jokes but pulled it off well having the audience feeding out of his hand
Sarah Hitchings as Dame Foxtrot who put her all into it, but to me is still too young and attractive to play the traditional type dame. The jokes about her looks and figure etc., therefore fell rather flat as any member of the cast could easily have fallen for her.
Slap and Tickle, Pip Hyman and Jo Mackenzie, gave a confident performances and complemented each other well with simple but effective costumes, Amanda Hawtin, Witch of Bong had all the attributes  that a wicked witch must possess and the “good “immortal, the Sprite Anya Hawtin did a splendid job dressed all in white and exuding all things pure and good.
The Black Imp, alias Joseph Hyman did a great job in exuding evil and threatening to kill everyone on sight with great youthful enthusiasm. Truly scary!
Sue Simpson as the Fairy Queen Snowdrift was a natural for this comedy role. The throne was cleverly done leading one to expect a femme fatale until she stood up revealing a blue rinse and a Dame Edna Everage persona complete with glasses. A nice touch! Her entourage, the slightly aging fairies looked wonderful, complete with a Zimmer frame and a bossy trade unionist. Really funny and unexpected.
From under the sea, came King Neptune played by Charles Townsend with a great speaking voice that lends itself to regal and authoritative roles
Judy Barber did a good job as the principle boy David as did Sally Hart as Mary, their duet was a splendid bit of harmony. They just needed to smile a bit more.
The junior chorus were simply wonderful, this village always seems to have a host of young talent which bodes well for the future. The Mice scene was particularly good, very funny and every word clear and audible. They really enjoyed themselves, were confident and worked well as a team. There were just a few too many prompts on the night I attended, however, many congratulations to everyone connected with the show,  the acting, the tuneful songs performed by the cast and by the Musical Director, John Davies and to Chrissy Brimacombe, who obviously worked hard to make Hickory Dickory Dock a success. Long may traditional village panto’s continue!

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