Jack & The Pet Shop

It was good to return after a gap year to the group and as usual received a warm welcome on arrival. Graham Beveridge MD on keyboard was in place with his melodious band who played before curtain up and accompanied the cast with a mix of old favourites some with new lyrics created by Director James. Always most enjoyable having a life band playing keeping us toe tapping.

Another Benenden original script from James loosely based on his favourite pantomime ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ although no beanstalk and certainly using ‘It’s A Kind of Magic’ developed into a menagerie of wonderful characters, puns, throw away lines, ad-libbing, catchy musical numbers into a colourful and energetic production. Bev Beveridge as prompt had some fun centrally placed between the stage and band keeping some of the cast on the straight and narrow with the most amusing script. This was truly a community spirited production from a happy cast backed by a committed team of helpers.

Widow Wonky and niece Wendy together ran ‘WW’s Wacky Wildlife World’ Benenden’s much loved village pet shop. Dastardly developer Mr Dodgy wants to demolish the shops and build a grand shopping centre, and it takes a village pet shop to defeat the villainous characters in the planning department namely Ophelia Giblets and sidekick Snotrag who are promised a substantial financial reward to get them closed down. With the magic of lights and sound and some very fine sets we meet an array of interesting characters including a singing lobster dame, three kittens on shoulders in a trench coat trying to pass as a human, a very pregnant illuminated electric eel, a green red tongued chameleon, various talking animals as a result of eating ‘magic beans’ plus a pantomime cow called Buttercup. We experience one hell of a storm and electricity failure too, enough to make the hair stand on end!

Some notable individual performances - James Conmy as the Dame Widow Wonky with a fruit basket headdress with a couple of dangling bananas so full of fun. Niece Wendy was Bonny Sullivan forever flitting in her heels and put across strong solo items. Ian Aldridge as Jack in his flat cap delighted the audience even when he mistakenly sold Buttercup for the magic beans. The three kittens who opened the show delivering their rhyming lines from a scroll and their antics throughout were performed by Jen Conmy, Annabel Pook and Flo Aldridge and were joined by another kitten to perform a delightful close harmony number. Penny Williams was a most elegant baddy of the piece, strutting around with her clipboard and worked so very well with Joy Rowlands a great comedy act from sidekick Snotrag. So many other wonderful characters were involved and I praise you all for your combined efforts, with a strong vocal full cast happy ending.

Bev Beveridge and Charlotte Bathew created the imaginative, magical sets to keep the Stage Crew on their toes with smooth changes. With the new electronic equipment, sound, lighting and effects were created and props were great. Costumes were first class in particular the amazing animal outfits with Louise Simpson, Angela Patrick who also was Meow Meow a very superior feline and April Trezies to thank. Face painting and make-up gave perfect finish.

James Conmy directing his imaginative writing assisted by Mark Hollander (green chameleon and Mr Dodgy) and Penny’s choreography brought the large cast of this  bazaar storyline to life and together with those not involved on stage helping to make such a fun production thank you, and to the young person who loudly, amusingly responded to the actors from the back of the audience, whoever you were, well done too!

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