Mother Goose

Mother Goose - Writtle Cards

Writtle Village Hall

27th November 2021

Director and Author Jerry Thomas

 

With a freezing cold, wet night outside, it was great to see a packed village hall of local people, all raring to see their first pantomime since the Pandemic.  The warmth of the production really did put a smile on everyone’s face and was a fitting start to the Christmas season.

Written, directed and acted by Jerry Thomas it was indeed a family affair with his wife as Producer and also acting beside him. His son, Adam Thomas was in a lead role.  This was interesting to see an original slant on a popular pantomime, with new music written by Neil Hamblin and Adam Thomas.  There were traces of “Romeo and Juliet” and “The Importance of being Earnest” - ‘A sandbag!!!!’ - this panto had all the ingredients that we have come to love.

Opening the show was the beautiful Good Fairy Goosedown (Michele Moody), speaking in traditional rhyme, wearing a gorgeous white dress, complete with wand.   She was matched by the wicked Bad Fairy, Malicia Slimeweed (Sharon Goodwin) in a super purple and black costume, they worked the auditorium well, bringing the boos and cheers from the audience.  Both ladies gave clear projected performances and were excellently cast by the director. Sharon also acted as Bella the beautician and gave us an Essex Towie character who wanted to make Mother Goose beautiful.

Daniel Curley, as Mother Goose was superb. He certainly knows how to work a stage, with every look and nuance acted with great effect.  With Daniel, you know you are in safe hands and here he acted the epitome of a Pantomime Dame.  Exuberant and great comedy timing, his song Big Mistake was a good music hall number and got the audience clapping away.

Adam Thomas as Mother Goose’s poor gormless son, Bruce, was in love with the squire’s rich spoilt daughter, Felicity Fairplay (Jo Follett).  The two were well cast while the projection and acting were good naturedly played. Sometimes the singing from both of them was a little out of tune but in panto, what does that matter, as the audience are always on the side of lovers.

Jerry Thomas, as the greedy Squire Fairplay, acted with credibility and confidence. Both his two henchmen, Grabbit and Runn, were excellently overplayed by Liz Curley and Tracey Wilmott. Making full use of the limited stage, spilling out occasionally into the aisle, they tried unsuccessfully to steal Gertie Goose so they could have the golden eggs. As a result mayhem ensued!  Some very funny comedic moments from this acting experienced duo.

Gertie (Jan Irving) in her own handmade goose feathered outfit was extremely funny with very fluid facial expressions, especially when she laid the golden eggs. I understand Jan also made most of the excellent costumes so one very busy lady.

Katherine Thomas as Mrs Grimshanks was the cunning maid who in the end wins the heart of the squire.  This was a confident performance starting with a country yokel accent and ending as an Aristocrat after being left by a sandbag.   Yes here is the Ernest reference which I mentioned above.

Postman, Janet Osborne Williams and Handyrabbit, Clare Williams gave effective support, completing the cast of twelve.  There was clever use of Clare, dressed as Handirabbit to change props on stage. Jan also was the Props mistress and sourced some super golden eggs for Gertie.

The small stage had a painted backdrop of rolling hills; stage right being Mother Goose’s cottage and stage left the posh hall of the Squire.  Lighting and Sound, (Nigel Rushbrook and Tom Harris) were well executed with lots of flashes of light and sound when good and bad entered.

Rehearsals through the Pandemic were understandably hard, so full marks go to Jerry and his team for finally getting the show on. If I have one little criticism, I do think that there should have been some cuts in the content as one hour twenty minutes in the first half is really far too long, especially for the younger audience. A hard thing to do when you are author, director and actor but definitely less is more.

This was a fun energetic pantomime and the lively audience went out buzzing.  Well done Writtle Cards.

 

Christine Davidson

NODA East District 8 Rep

 

 

 

 

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