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Mother Goose

Author: Darren Smith

Information

Date
13th January 2025
Society
Huddersfield Light Opera Company
Venue
Lawrence Batley Theatre
Type of Production
Pantomime
Director
Chris Brearley
Musical Director
Scott Kitchen
Choreographer
Pam Strickland - Zoe Cook
Producer
Dom Moccia
Written By
Chris Brearley

Huddersfield Light Opera Company (HLOC) brought us an adult adaptation of their family pantomime Mother Goose delivering a dazzling evening of laughter, cheeky humour, and vibrant performances that teetered delightfully on the edge of good taste without crossing the line. Beautifully staged and featuring a stellar main cast supported by the energetic Strickland Cook Theatre School, this production breathed fresh, risqué energy into the classic pantomime tale, whilst retaining its heartwarming charm. 
The story revolves around Mother Goose, a warm-hearted mother of Silly Billy and Colin Goose, as she navigates the pitfalls of being poor and vanity. Tempted by the golden eggs from a magical goose and the chances of eternal youth by the devious Dick Dastardly, she is forced to choose between her desires and her loyal family. The familiar themes of love, self-acceptance, and kindness were cleverly interwoven with plenty of cheeky involvement from the audience, making for an entertaining blend of heartfelt storytelling and adult humour. 

Mother Goose the titular character was brought to life with flamboyant energy and superb comic timing by Chris Brearley. His portrayal balanced sharp wit with moments of vulnerability, making Mother Goose both hilarious and relatable. Chris's interaction with the audience was a done with plenty of double entendres, just risqué enough to leave the audience in stitches without just being completely crude. 

Silly Billy was Dom Moccia. Perfectly cast as the comedic side kick who is the target of most of the abuse in the show. Dom delivered a wonderfully energetic and comedic performance that had the audience in stitches from start to finish. With impeccable timing and an infectious sense of fun, Dom fully embraced the character's naïve, bumbling nature 

Dick Dastardley was delightfully played by Craig Squance.  Craig was captivating as the seductive and scheming bad guy. With a voice as sharp as his costume, he delivered his deliciously cutting lines. 

Tori Taylor, Fairy Rose Petal was a whimsical delight as Mother Goose’s ethereal guide. Her sparkling presence and effervescent humour contrasted perfectly with Dick’s darker edge. Her comic interactions with the audience and quick-witted rhymes always landed with the audience. 

Colin Goose, Kimberley Booth and Jill Moneybags, Isabelle Barker were the Pantomimes love story and were so perfectly suited to the roles. In this pantomime, the love story between Colin and Jill, was both charming and humourous, creating a delightful subplot that captured the audience’s hearts. Together they portrayed both elegance and warmth, complementing each other perfectly. The pair’s singing was particularly enjoyable and without doubt Kimberley has mastered the panto thigh slap. 

Squire Moneybags, Colin Harris was a perfect blend of pompous, or should that be “pumpous” comedic flair and timing, adding a delightful layer of humour and playful villainy to the pantomime. Despite being the local rent collector, Colin’s timing and delivery brought a playful side to the character and his “Bottom coughs” always brought laughter. 

Scratchit and Sniffit, Amy Blackburn and Jonny Kain were the bumbling henchmen and were a delightful comedic duo.  Scratchit was the slightly more naive of the two, while Sniffit, with nods to Elder Price took the lead. Their physical comedy was spot-on, from pratfalls to misunderstandings, and they often got caught in ridiculous situations that were impossible not to laugh at. With vocal performances were equally well-matched their chemistry was fantastic; they played off each other effortlessly. 

Emma Sykes as Pricilla, the golden-egg-laying goose, was nothing short of delightful. Her expressive costume and mischievous antics added a layer of charm to the production to see her dancing around without her head was an unexpected highlight. 

The Strickland Cook Theatre School choreographed by the talented duo Pam Strickland and Zoe Cook, brought dazzling energy to the show. The troupe displayed exceptional versatility and enthusiasm. Their routines were sharp, colourful, and full of life, providing a visual feast that complemented the main cast. 

The ensemble rounded out the production beautifully, supporting the main cast by adding depth and dimension to the world.  Their comedic timing, singing, singing and character work made even the briefest appearances memorable. 

 

Under the direction of the show’s writer Chris Brearley, the production flowed seamlessly, with just the right balance of saucy humour, traditional pantomime tropes, and moments of genuine sentiment. Chris always gets this just right and it was obvious to all watching that this has been a fun show to rehearse.   

The music, led by MD Scott Kitchen and performed by only 3 players really blew me away. You would have thought they was a much bigger band playing. Every song was on point and Scott got the very best out of his cast. 

The set (Scenic Projects) was vibrant and dynamic, transporting the audience from Mother Goose’s quaint village to the opulent realm of the waterfall of youth. Jon Hunt and the entire back stage team, “The Crew In Black”, did a fab job of keeping up with the transitions and never letting the pace drop. 

Costumes (Charades Theatrical Costume Hire) were exceptional. High quality and very vibrant. This alongside the whole costume and make up team made this a joy to the eyes.  

This adult version of Mother Goose was an absolute triumph. The production managed to remain accessible to a wide audience while incorporating just enough cheeky humour to keep the adults thoroughly entertained. HLOC should be commended for creating a night of joy, laughter, and unapologetic fun. It’s pantomime at its cheeky best! As always thank you for inviting me and for my ever present warm welcome. You are a joy to watch and I look forward to Hairspray with eager anticipation.  

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