Pandemic Panto

Who would of thought in all my 10 years as NODA rep for District 5 I would be sitting at home watching one of my groups performing a Panto?

Pandemic Panto was written and devised by Michael Gantry and produced by Charlotte Gantry. This was such a talented piece of work. I’m told it took 35 hours and 611 video clips to get this Pandemic Panto ready for a Zoom meeting…. now that is dedication to Rats .The call at the end of PP was, "Write a panto for Rats" -  Michael I definitely think you should..

I didn’t know what to expect from a Zoom panto, I was thrown back in my seat; this was excellent,  Michael and Charlotte.

How do I start to review a Zoom meeting? with 75 guests in the online audience watching with me.  Easy!! I could stop now and use one word Fabulous. But I wont stop there, just a few people to mention……………25 in fact.

Starting the proceedings for the evening was Dean Gaston (Dame Jolly Jacky) giving his audience the Roth of is wicked tongue, luckily I was missed.  Dean as per usual gave a solid strong performance, one of the best dames in my area, if not the best. Dean was costumed and made up to the hilt, wonderful. Well-done Dean. 

Pandemic Panto was based on all pantos Jack and the beanstalk, Cinderella, Snow White, Aladdin.Dick Whittington, Puss in Boots, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan and many more - an ingenious idea Michael,

Cast included Holly Geldard as Jack, who made a fine principal boy and what a wonderful actress, Mick the magic bean merchant (Darren Hammock) gave us a Fred Housego type character, Fairy Godmother and fairy Godfather (Beryl Lacey and Steve Berry certainly lived up to their parts and Steve”s godfather accent was a surprise!! .Fairy BadMother (Helen West ) was really BAD..a nasty piece of work, over the top and superb, camp as usual, I say no more. Comedy came from two stalwarts of Rats (Jo and Alan Godman) as Sleeping Beauty and Phillip, bouncing off each other with perfect timing  - super.  Faye Wyatt as (Snow White) gave a talented performance. Now those 'small people',  Amanda and Amy Miller, Charlotte Benavente, Jan Wyatt, Nikaita Mullings, Carla and lilia Micallef, all on screen together and trying to sing badly, that’s really difficult to do.  I thought they were well cast, all doing a splendid job. Peter Pan (Georgie Sayers) looked every part a Peter and acted well. The 3 lost boys (Kerry Bailey,Linda Brown and Kirsty Masterson didn’t look lost at all all - holding their parts very well. Now the love interest! Ryan Caston and Laura Feekings as Alladin and Princess Jasmin looked in love and lots of innuendos in their script gave us the sense of love. BUT the teapot needed a lid!!! Wicked and villainous performance from Luke Bailey as Abanazar - loved it.

Now what can I say here Melody Harbour!! - blue faced and a sterling Genie now that’s classy acting from Melody which made me chuckle. Cinders and Prince Charming (Jill and Neil Balderston) were charming in their parts. Helen Gaston as Dick Whittington, played with tongue in cheek as only Helen could do, - perfect. Puss in Boots (Claire Feekings) looked every inch a cat with excellent make up and I wouldn’t want to get into a cat fight with her. Ugly sisters Miley (Kevin Lane) and Kylie (Rob O'Hanlon) - ugly? well Miley was, but Kylie wow! That must have been a technical nightmare to get that superb effect, well done you, so so clever. Closing the Panto was the Giant (Phill Willing). Scary Phill whose make up was outstanding complete with superb teeth...

This Pandemic Panto was just up our street for a lockdown evening.  only wished there were more around,but they would have to go a long way to beat this one.

Well done to Rats and their perfect cast of players with such talent. I hope to see you all in person very soon…Thank you for asking me to view, and thanks to Michael and Charlotte for this astonishing piece of pantomime theatre…  

 

 

  

 

 

Who would of thought in all my 10 years as NODA rep for District 5 I would be sitting at home watching one of my groups performing a Panto.

Pandemic Panto was written and derived by Michael Gantry and Produced by Charlotte Gantry. This was such a talented piece of work. I’m told it took 35 hours and 611 video clips to get this Pandemic Panto ready for a Zoom meeting…. now that is dedication to Rats .The call at the end of PP was, Write a panto for Rats Michael and I definitely think you should..I didn’t know what to expect from a Zoom panto, OMG was I thrown back in my seat; this was excellent Michael and Charlotte.

How do I start to review a Zoom meeting? with 75 guests in the online audience watching with me.Easy!! I could stop now and use one word Fabulous. But I wont stop there, just a few people to mention……………25 in fact.

Starting the proceedings for the evening was Dean Gaston (Dame Jolly Jacky) giving his audience the Roth of is wicked tongue, luckily I was missed.  Dean as per usual gave a solid strong performance, one of the best dames in my area if not the best. Dean was costumed and made up to the hilt, wonderful. Well-done Dean. 

Pandemic Panto was based on all Panto”s Jack and the beanstalk, Cinderella, Snow white, Alladin.Dick Whittington, Puss in boots, Sleeping Beauty,Peter Pan and many more, an ingenious idea Michael,

Cast included Jack (Holly Geldard) made a fine Principle boy and what a wonderful actress, Mick the magic bean merchant (Darren Hammock) gave us a Fred Housego type character, Fairy Godmother and fairy Godfather (Beryl Lacey and Steve Berry certainly lived up to their parts and Steve”s godfather accent was a surprize!! .Fairy BadMother (Helen West ) was really BAD..a nasty piece of work, over the top and superb, camp as usual I say no more. Comedy came from two stalwarts of Rats (Jo and Alan Godman) as Sleeping Beauty and Phillip, bouncing of each other and perfect timing Super. Faye Wyatt as (Snow white) gave a talented performance. Now thos small people Amanda and Amy Miller,Charlotte Benavente Jan Wyatt,Nikaita Mullings Carla and lilia Micallef all on screen together and trying to sing badly, that’s difficult to do, I thought they were well cast, all doing a splendid job. Peter Pan (Georgie Sayers) looked every part a Peter and acted well.The 3 lost boys (Kerry Bailey,Linda brown,and Kirsty Masterson,didn’t look lost at all all holding their parts. Now the love interest! Ryan Caston and Laura Feekings as Alladin and Princess Jasmin looked in love and lots on innuendos in their script gave us the sense of love. BUT the teapot needed a lid!!!Wicked and villainous performance from Luke Bailey as Abanazar, loved it.Now what can I say here Melody Harbour !! blue faced and a sterling Genie now that’s classy acting from Melody, made me chuckle. Cinders and Prince Charming (Jill and Neil Balderston) were charming in their parts. Helen Gaston as Dick Whittington played with tongue in cheek as only Helen could do, perfect. Puss in Boots (Claire Feekings) looked ever inch a cat excellent make up and I wouldn’t want to get into a cat fight with her. Ugly sisters Miley (Kevin Lane) and Kylie (Rob O”Hanlon) ugly well Miley was,but Kylie wow. That must have been a technical nightmare to get that superb effect, well done you,so so clever. Closing the Panto was the Giant (Phill Willing) Scary Phill outstanding make up and teeth..

This Pandemic Panto was just up our street for a lockdown evening,I only wished there were more around,but they would have to go a long way to beet this one.Well done to Rats and theire perfect cast of players..Keep this talent up and I hope to see you all in person very soon…Thank you for asking me to view, and thanks to Michael and Charlotte for this astonishing piece of pantomime theatre…  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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