King Arthur the Panto

KING ARTHUR the PANTO... a pantomime presented by CADOS at Chorley Theatre, Dole Lane, Chorley on Tuesday, 13th December, 2022

It was really great to see Chorley Theatre packed to the rafters and even better to hear that the entire ‘run’ was a sell out!  We had a great mixture of children and adults in the audience the night I attended and there was a real ‘buzz’ of anticipation and excitement in the air as we waited for those curtains to open!

The panto was written by Chorley’s very own Robert Walsh who also Directed it. In his programme notes, Rob tells us that he wrote this panto in 2019 after he’d just finished playing ‘Buttons’ in Cinderella (which won him a NODA Award for ‘Best Lead Actor in a Panto – a wonderful performance).  Rob explains that, having made up many of his own lines whilst playing Buttons (it’s ‘panto law Rob’ or at least that what I keep telling my society) that he felt the need to have a crack at writing his own panto, the results… ‘King Arthur the Panto’!  Again, from Rob’s note, his aim for this panto was to produce a panto ‘full of fun’ (FULLY SUPPORT THAT AIM) and if the applause and audience involvement throughout was anything to go by, then that aim was achieved and more!  Well done, Rob, be proud!

The Production Team… as stated previously… Robert Walsh not only wrote the panto, but directed it as well with the assistance of Shaun McManus. Ian Robinson produced it and Rebecca Dickinson was the Choreographer.  The casting was ‘spot on’ and the chemistry between the cast was evident from the start!  They were well rehearsed and as soon as those curtains parted… were ready and willing to give it their all!  Rebecca Dickinson had eighteen young dancers to work with… ‘Minis’, ‘Juniors’ and ‘Seniors’. With such a wide age range of dancers with differing abilities I would have thought, the challenge for Rebecca must have been to ensure that all the routines, not only played to the strengths of all concerned, but also challenged them, just a little!   Having now seen the routines, this was achieved and more!  All the routines were good, but there was one, a ‘highlight’ for me, that stood out… and that was the ‘routine and scene’ that bounded the ‘Cell Block Tango’ danced by the ‘seniors’ … a great scene, with some fabulous choreography that really did play to the strengths and I would suggest ‘pushed’ their limits as well!  The movement was crisp and clean, danced to perfection and enhanced the show ever so much… well done Rebecca, well done ladies… be ever so proud!

The Cast…there was no doubt in my mind that this was very much a ‘team performance’! The chemistry on stage was there from the off and you could just tell that each and everyone wanted to ensure that ‘Rob’s aim’ of making this a ‘fun filled evening’ was on top of everyone’s agenda!  So, with everyone ‘pulling’ in the same direction and giving their all, it really is difficult to start selecting favourite performances without perhaps doing injustice to others…  but I will identify my ‘fab four’ performances later, but can I now introduce the cast…. ‘King Arthur’ was played by Jade Hiatt, a ‘rags to riches’ type role; Gemma Nightingale played ‘Guinevere’, our Princess. Lynn Harley took on the role of ‘Morgana’, the evil witch.  Ryan Norse played ‘Dame Lollipop’, need I say more!  Stephen Clipston played ‘Merlin’... supposedly the greatest Wizard of all time!  The comedy Duo of ‘Sir Lancelot’ and ‘Sir Percypoos’ was played by Donna Keller and Steph Threfall respectively.  Dave Hartley played ‘Jingle Bells’… the jokeless Court Jester whilst under the control of ‘Morgana’. ‘Lady of the Lake’… the good fairy played by Jade Ingram.

DANCERS…
Mini’s…    Beatrice Lynch, Coco Culshaw, Jemima Hardy and Phoebe Dunning.
Juniors… Grace Dolan, Heidi Brindle, Heidi Wilson, Izaac Latham, Juliette Hardy and Scarlett Woods.
Seniors… Ebony Bleakley, Eve & Rebecca Fulop, Jess Mitchell, Layla Clarke, Myah Brookfield, Natasha
                  Adamson and Poppy Hazelwood.

And so, to MY ‘Fab Four’…
i) my ‘Showstealer’ was Ryan Norse playing ‘Dame Lillipop’. Ryan did a great job as ‘Dame’… interacted ever so well with the audience, (a must for any Dame), confident, good stage presence. good comedic timing, worked ever so well with all the other cast members… really did enjoy the character created… well done Ryan, good job!  ii) Running Ryan close for ‘showstealer’ was our comedy duo of Donna Keller and Steph Threfall taking on the roles of Sir Lancelot and Sir Percypoos.   Again, two great individual characters created… but together they formed a great comedy duo!  Donna was the more serious one and Steph the wacky one!  The characters created were great, again good stage presence, interaction with audience was good and I just loved the interplay with each other … well done girls… be proud!   iii) If I could give a ‘trouper award’ then it would have to go to Lynn Harley who played the ‘evil witch’ Morgana!  It was obvious from the start that Lynn was really struggling with a nasty cough, which she handled with great aplomb!  There were times when I thought that’s it… but she battled on… still encouraging and demanding that the audience boo her at every given opportunity! With all that going on, she was able stay in character remarkably well, good stage presence and under all that coughing there was hiding a great singing voice… hope you’re feeling better soon Lynn… be ever so proud, sterling job! 

Staging/Tech/Set … Amber Tabiner (Stage Manager) with Rebecca Moran (Assistant) and their Stage Crew (Alan Levesley, Meg Ryder, Josh Collins, Ciaran McGhee, Shaun McManus and Kath Townsend) did a great job in keeping the production flowing with little or no hitches… congrats guy’s great job!  Chorley Theatre are blessed with so many talented people willing to work back stage and create, build and paint sets… Shaun McManus (Lead - Set Building/painting Team) which included… Lynsey Marsh, Kellie and Charlie Gillett, Catherine and Darren Chandler, Nikki and Jazz Bailey, Elliot Pritchard, Maureen Orrell-Strand, Alex Bond, Leigh Mower, Stephen Clipston, Steven and Evie Catterall and David Hartley.

Sound/Lighting… Robert Walsh was i/c sound design and Paul Carr i/c lighting design and the ‘rigging’.  They had working with them… Steven and Evie Catterall, Ellie Brookfield, Jasmin Davenport, Evan Ditchburn, Ben Holden, Ruby Johnson, Zak Whitburn and member of Chorley Youth Theatre.  Great job guys!     

Costumes… Charades Costume Hire, St Helens provided the adult costumes which were superb, as were the Junior Costumes, which were made by Sandra Dickinson…Sandra also looked after the entire wardrobe… well done you!  Props… were apt and enhanced the show, (loved the ‘Fredericks Tricycle’) under watchful eye of Rebecca Moran/Amber Tabiner and their team

Finally… when any production has young people involved, the need for ‘Licensed Chaperones’ is essential. Can I on behalf of NODA and myself, thank those willing, usually unnamed/unnoticed volunteers, without whom this type of youth involvement could not take place… well done one all… appreciated!  

Before closing this review, I had the privilege that evening to present Ian Robinson (Chairman Chorley Theatre) with National Noda Award for the 2022 Poster competition, won by CADOS for their musical ‘Ordinary Days’ staged at Chorley Theatre in July, 2021.  Congrats Ian.  Finally, thanks for your invitation, Susan and I thoroughly enjoyed the pantomime and are already looking forward to 'Frozen’.  Have a great Christmas CADOS, see you all again 2023.

‘Stay Safe, Keep Well’
'Stronger Together’
Jim Briscoe
NODA NW
District 6 Rep.

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