Mother Goose

Mother Goose - SS Simon & Judes ADS

SS Simon & Judes ADS pantomime this year is Mother Goose with lots of egg jokes thrown in for the crack.

The set comprises of Stage Left a large wishing well. There were steps down into the audience and a raised tier on stage at the back with steps centre onto the stage. A large backcloth of farm houses and fields is depicted. Stage Right is the front of Mother Goose’s cottage. Another back cloth was a large red barn and fields. A cloth was also of Deathly Hallows Wood and The Royal Palace in Gooseland which looked very effective. Demon Night’s Castle had a folded flat which had his throne in front of it. Various other staging and props were brought on to support the scene, including a large golden egg. I did just wonder at the magical sword the fairy gave to Peter was then different to the one he used later on. Stage Manager was Andy Jones. Lighting and Sound all worked to help bring the show alive. Sound and Lighting by Wayne Gibson and Peter Dickinson.

Costumes looked great - the primary colours really worked. The fairy looked ethereal and great costume.  Demon costume was great but I was just unsure of the modern footwear as in trainers - maybe boots or doc martins would have suited the outfit better?  Gooseland looked very magical all in white and pink and silver finale outfits looked gorgeous. Wardrobe Stella Crank. Choreographer was Jennifer Cooper. We were treated to a joyful opening and even a routine with gold bowler hats.

Stella Crank directs and gives everyone a chance to shine on stage. It very much has a community feel and even in the audience. Loving getting the 6/7 in which went down well.  I was told SSSJ are part of Bolton Intuitive to get people into the theatre who have never been before - what a wonderful project. I have to say there was a little girl in front of me, who was enthralled the whole way through, she went up on stage too and her face was pure delight.  Making memories is what it is all about and the cast were lovely with the children that went up on the stage.

The Junior Chorus were a delight and looked to be lapping up the experience. The Senior Chorus brought the energy and were supportive - they were Lynn Clarke, Barbara Lewis and Lyn Sumner. Janine Rennie played Lottie the Goose Girl, Janine had a lovely voice and opened the show. Jessica Mulraney was Fairy Day and actually saved the day. Colin Dean was King Goosey - Gander and gave us a regally kindly king. Marc Lyth played Mother Goose and hats off to him walking in heels and tackling the stairs in them.

Suzanne Smith was the loveable Priscilla the Goose. Hope you were not too hot in that costume - well done. Peter, Mother Goose’s son was played by Heather Cooper and Beth Dean-Boardman was Peter’s girlfriend Polly. Both had good chemistry on stage and energy, keeping the story going – also, lovely voices. We had two baddies - one wasn’t sure and brought the comedy was David Crank playing greedy landlord Squire Blackheart who switched between his greed and his disdain of the person he needed to marry, Mother Goose. It was a great scene with the ghost as a different ending to normal. Hilarious when the audience shouted “Take it Off” as in the Masked Singer to reveal the Squire. Gotta love a live show, the audience were so invested.  The real baddie was Neo Leach playing Demon Night. Good to see Leo taking on a different role and a great deep voice. Jack Farrell as Silly Billy is fast becoming a confident actor and took on the challenge and had good interaction with the audience and your interpretation of the character worked.

Last but not least and my favourites if I am allowed were Dee Anderson as Nifty and Chris Roberts as Shifty the bailiffs. Great double act of ‘Dumb and Dumber’ - loved Dee’s ode to Johnny Rotten with the mohawk and the added pink. They worked great together with the ad libs often chaotic but it worked. You were never sure who was in charge and that was hilarious. Chris’ laid-backness and Dee’s knack to make it funny. Great work.

Craig and I thank you for the invite and I have to say seeing the younger members participating in the show was a delight and it didn’t throw the cast. Thank you.

 

Liz Hume-Dawson

District Rep 5

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