Mother Goose

Cowdenbeath Community Theatre’s choice this year is “Mother Goose” – another firm favourite for the pantomime-going audience. Also, not to disappoint, this is yet another truly “family” panto from the NODA pantomime farm – this one penned by Mark Llewellin.
A bright colourful opening to the show ensured that this afternoon’s audience were immediately on the right side :  now would that be the side of the dame – Mother Goose – played, over-the-top, as it should be by Alex Keatings, or as a reasonable percentage of the younger members of the audience appeared to favour – the baddie, Lord Loot, this character brought to life by Sean Mitchell. Just possibly, a few more opportunities to “boo” might have drawn a more partisan audience!
That said, Priscilla the Goose (Kim Donnachie) was quickly taken to the hearts of our audience, young and older alike. In traditional fashion, CCT’s panto contained a fine, thigh-slapping principal boy in Billy Goose (Lynsey Combe).  The duets between Billy and Amy were well sung – and, inevitably, is the cue for the young lads in the audience to delve into bags of sweeties until the “luvvy” song is over!
Congratulations to Fairy Thistledown who performed a lovely “Fairy Godmother” role, with Sergeant Major sidetones.   Unfortunately, the programme was unclear about who, exactly, played this part. Two smaller characters remain – Cedric Clanger (Gary Duncan) and not forgetting the Mayor (Kevin Keir) who ensured favourable comments in this revue by not missing out your NODA Rep at the sweetie hand-out!  What’s the world coming to when sweets have to be handed out at panto, rather than a handful being thrown from the stage? Bothe Cedric and the Mayor acted and sang their hearts out throughout the show, and added in no small way to the overall audience enjoyment.
The small chorus of singers/dancers all performed well – and, most importantly, looked as if they were enjoying themselves!  Congratulations to MD Suzanne Stewart and choreographer Melissa M Davidson for getting the maximum out of these young actors. Final word goes to Director, Harry Wood, standing down after 13 years with the Company.  Over the last two years of visiting CCT’s productions, the direction of a mixed adult/young adult company has always been a strongpoint, and I look forward to this continuing in the future.
Sets and costumes were extremely colourful, and, together with good sound made for a most enjoyable afternoon.
Well done Cowdenbeath Community Theatre.
 

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