Jock and the Beanstalk

This pantomime production was a “first” for this musical society but, having said that, this production, full of local quips and jokes, was a very successful venture for the company. Needless to say, the show’s title gives one an insight into what this show was going to be all about! It contained all the usual panto characters, led by a frivolous Dame Mita Bean, (pronounced Mighta!) ably played by society President, Andrew Beckett, who was full of fun and energy and was a very good comic Dame indeed. Sadly the “sickness gremlins” struck the young cast for their final performance and a hastily, last minute, re-casting was necessary, moving players to cover newer and bigger roles, and this all worked perfectly. (Though with a cast of 39 named players, it was difficult to relate the programme names to the new players taking over other roles!) This script, written by Dame Andrew, brought a new slant to the original tale. Gone was the pantomime cow and, in its place, was Gabble, the goose (Morven Moyes) who could lay golden eggs; no magic beans to haggle with; and a small Giant named Lord Blunderbore, (the perfect role for Ron Kirkpatrick) who was always irritated because he was shorter than other people! Then there was bossy Fairy Liquid (Sarah Beck), along with over-the-top Fairy Nuff (Elaine Murray) and Fairy Middlin (Dot Oudney) who both thwarted the evil and bad giant’s henchman, Heinz (nasty Darren Gracey). Also, into the mix came two excellent comic cooks, Crosse and Blackwell (Dylan Wallace and Isla Beckett), plus a set of funny Policemen, who all added to the funny story line. And, finally, our hero Jock, found Jodie Harden in excellent form and at total ease as principal boy, along with Rhiona Sidley making a super and delightful principal girl, Henrietta. Being a small rural society, it all came over in a small and easy manner, and staged according to the facilities available, and the very young youth chorus performed well when required musically. Well done, Alyth, for your first forage into the world of panto - the society should be well pleased with their first festive effort.

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