Jack and Jill

JACK AND JILL, a pantomime presented by Wigan Little Theatre at Wigan Little Theatre, Crompton Street, Wigan on Thursday, 14th December, 2023.

The front page of WLT’s programme suggests that this is a ‘Traditional Pantomime’ penned by the ever so talented Bill Collins, who is a legend here at Wigan Little Theatre… but that statement doesn’t really tell the full story!  Earlier this year Bill sadly passed away at the age of eighty-three.  WLT obtained permission from Bill’s family to perform this panto which Bill had written for them to perform in 2023. I’m sure Bill would have been so proud to hear the applause, the laughter, the cheers, the boos that emanated throughout the theatre during the performance the night I was privileged to see it! In memory of Bill and his involvement with pantomime over the years… we at NODA District 6., after an approach by WLT are remembering Bill, by renaming the ‘Best Dame in a Panto Award’ as the ‘Bill Collins Best Dame in a Panto Award’ at this year’s District 6 NODA Awards Dinner … RIP Bill!

The Storyline …  tells of strange happenings in Nursery Rhyme Land… could ‘Belladonna’ the evil witch be behind most if not everything (‘oh no she’s isn’t… oh yes, she’s is). The question to be answered is … “Will ‘Jack and Jill’ discover what Belladonna has hidden in the magic well?”

The Production Team… Katie Davis (Director) in her programme notes… states that she was delighted to have been asked to direct this panto, having worked closely with Bill in many pantos over the years.  Working alongside Katie, we had Caroline McCann (Musical Director), Chris Boyle and Elaine Delaney (Production Assistants) and Diane Halliwell (Choreographer). The team had pulled together an enthusiastic cast who were well rehearsed and as soon as those curtains parted were prepared to give us their all!  It was obvious throughout that the team knew exactly what they wanted from this piece and how to achieve it.  Congrats to Diane Halliwell for some cleverly devised routines that played to the strengths of all the dancers … loved the dance in the ‘snow scene’ and the dance that accompanied ‘Eye of the Tiger’… well done Diane… well done team… great results throughout!

The Cast… I don’t think there’s any need for me to ‘beat around the bush’ with my ‘showstealer’ – it’s panto, its Wigan Little Theatre… and it’s John Churnside aka ‘Dame Daisy Hubbard’ doing what he does better than most… make us laugh, soak us through (with his sidekick this year – a bit cheeky I thought ahahah), just basically doing everything you’d ever want from a Pantomime Dame!  I could talk, about stage presence, facial expressions, mannerisms, ‘connecting with the audience… John probably does all that in his sleep, but let’s throw into the mix a slapstick ‘wallpapering scene’ with ‘Tommy’ aka Peter Jones, the Dame’s luv interest… which was hilarious and very messy … then to top that a ‘Fish and Chip’ monologue, type thing for want of a better phrase, performed again with ‘Tommy’ and for good measure with the loveable ‘Cuthbert’ the Town Cryer played really well by Stephen Carletti … this was insanely good with incredible timing, very clever delivery which was made to look far easier than it obviously was… congrats you three, and congrats John for another ‘showstopping performance’ well done sir!  Helen Grey produced a wonderful ‘Flower Fairy’ who opened the show, looked superb, and who sang with a terrific voice.  Helen is blessed with great stage presence and she had an instant connection with the audience which is always a huge plus… be proud Helen!  ‘Peter Piper’ and ‘Polly Flinders’ were a couple in love… played by Fiona Stewart and Jess Sinclair respectively!  Fiona and Jess worked really well together.  Two more with great stage presence and were perfect fits for these two roles. I really enjoyed Jess’s rendition of ‘I think I want to marry you’ … well done you two, be very proud!  Our ‘villains’… ‘Bella Donna’ (The Evil Witch) and ‘Sir Jasper’ (The Local Squire) were played well by Ellen Fitton and Brian Kendrick respectively.  They got plenty of boos and ridicule from an enthusiastic audience! ‘Jack’ and ‘Jill’ were played well by Joshua Birmingham and Darcie James… two young performers who look to have a great future on stage… well done you two!  We then had an ensemble of ‘Nursery Rhyme’ characters … Cathy Owen playing the ‘Queen of Hearts’; Nicholas Walsh playing ‘Little Boy Blue’; Grace Ball playing ‘Marjorie Dawes’; Kevin Shirley playing ‘Georgy Porgy’; Evie Fanning playing ‘Little Bo Peep’; Keira Lawton playing ‘Puss in Boots’; Chloe Kewley playing ‘Red Riding Hood’; Olivia Beardsworth playing ‘Snow White’ and Sianna Cooper playing ‘Little Miss Muffet’.  We also had our ‘choreographer’ Diane Halliwell taking to the stage as a ‘stunt double’ for ‘Dame Daisy’… great job Diane… we didn’t notice the change honestly ahahahahaha!  Finally our Dancers… and what a great job they made of all the routines they were given… they included Belle Halliwell,
Zara Tilley, Chloe Charnock, Chloe Roper, Poppy Goulding, Emma Hill, Kianna Mather Moore, Sophie Thomas, Jessica Jones and Allarnah Sullivan (Swing Dancer) … so much energy and commitment from this young team of dancers, be very proud of what you helped achieve!  

Staging/Set/Tech… simple sets accompanied by some stunning backcloths were used throughout to create the various locations which enhanced the production and worked ever so well!  Shelia Cleary (Stage Manager) and Katie Davis (Director and also Set Designer) along with the WLT Construction Team and Painting Team which numbered seventeen named people, too many to name individually … helped create these sets which looked great and which worked ever so well, creating the space and effects that allowed the cast to do their thing!

Lighting and Sound was excellent and used ever so well!  We had another ‘team’ of seventeen listed … again too many to mention individually… but well done to you all!

Wardrobe… the costumes, which were excellent… enhanced this production ever so much…congrats to Stacey Vernon and Ian Trumble for keeping an eye on everything wardrobe wise!
Props… were ideal again enhancing the production so much… overseeing everything were Elaine Delaney, Anne Martin, Cynthia Lyon, Patricia Ashurst and James Delaney… congrats!

Once again, there was so much to like about this pantomime and if the applause, the hoots and holla’s that greeted the finale were anything to go by… I would suggest it was enjoyed by all those present that evening!  If I could be ever so picky… and this isn’t a criticism at all, just an observation… but we only left the theatre at 10.35pm… I did think the panto was a little lengthy and I did feel that not only some of the children, but some adults sat near to me were getting a little fidgety toward the end… as I say not a criticisms in any way, shape or form… just an observation!
 
Thank you for inviting my wife and I we thoroughly did enjoy ‘Jack and Jill ‘… have a great Christmas…look forward to seeing you for Home, I’m Darling in January 2024!

Stay safe, keep well…
‘Stronger Together’

Jim Briscoe
NODA NW
District 6 Rep
 

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