Pirates of Penzance Jnr. & Wolf 'n the Hood

Watlington .. oh Watlington! It always feels like coming home - a youth production this time and, after last year’s ‘Doctor Doolittle Jr.’, I could not have been more excited. No Cyril Pike on the door this time which disorientated me straight away … and the bar had been declared inappropriate for a youth production !!!!!!!! and was closed. It was all turning sour and the curtain had not even risen. There were, however, lots of Watlington friends on duty and some in the audience as well … including (but not limited to) one of the Beaton sisters… but I have no idea which one. There were two one-act offerings available this night, a comedy play By George Douglas Lee entitled ‘Wolf ‘n the Hood’ followed by an intriguing ‘Pirates of Penzance Jr.’. It was in every sense a game of two halves. As I read back that first paragraph, a game of two halves is such an accurate description. The first of those halves was directed by Mike Cooke, a really nice guy and (in my humble opinion) one whose abilities have not always been recognised. He had selected a very funny piece based on the three little pigs and the big bad wolf (BBW) and takes place in the courtroom where BBW is standing trial for huffing and puffing and all that malarkey. The dialogue was clever and funny but perhaps a little advanced for the performers, some of whom looked to not get it at all. I found out afterwards that a couple of cast members (and remember these are just kids) had suffered badly from nerves …. I know how crippling that can be, and so fully understood why two performers had their scripts on stage. The set was perfectly adequate and the very embodiment of a courtroom. Costumes and make up were excellent and lighting and sound, although simple, did everything they needed to do. There were good performances from Eleanor Chilvers, Rosie Futter and Martha Elliot as Ted, Fred and Ed Pig with nice characterisations by Jessie Harvey as Little Bo Peep and Maddie cole as Red Riding Hood. Jayden Simpson got his share of the laughs as Bailiff Jack Spratt and I was very impressed by Abbey Harvey as … Judge Penelope Piper the Pickled Pepper Picker. Unfortunately, all were swept into the wings by a virtuoso performance from Cornelia Bainbridge as the accused. Looking very wolverine Miss Bainbridge was in complete command of the stage throughout, solid with both words and moves and working the complicated comedy like a true pro. My compliments to Director Mike Cooke. It may not have been exactly what he wanted but it was entertaining and …… very tidy. There is at least as much credit to be given for taking a little and making it a little more, than by taking a lot and making it a little more. Sometimes (as I have come to learn) the limit of what a director can achieve is set by the cast and not by his or her own abilities. Bottom line ….I enjoyed every minute of this piece and so did the audience. There is no getting away from the fact that Act Two was in a different league altogether. The well-known and oft told tale of a young man apprenticed to a Pirate when he should have been sent to be a Pilot. If that doesn’t mean anything to you then telling you the rest of the story is pointless. Suffice to say it goes well, it goes badly and it end beautifully. Messrs Gilbert and Sullivan enjoyed their greatest success with this title and it still outsells (almost) all other G and S productions. A tough project for kids I hear you cry … and yes .. it must have been. In the director’s chair for this one .. may I introduce Mrs Debbie Bennett (nee Hiles) - that is important because the Hiles’ are well known in these part for G and S. I believe Mrs Bennett’s first infant words were tarantera tarantera and the rest is history. Set, sound and lighting were all excellent with the costumes taking things up another notch with wonderful maidens, pirates and policemen’s outfits. The chorus were enthusiastic and certainly plentiful with some doubling up … but less than you might think. In the supporting roles I enjoyed Ellie Marshall as Isabel, Calleigh Steeles as Kate, Imogen Coote as Edith. Dylan Whiting was hilarious as Samuel, leaving no comedy moment unattended. Lorna Coote made me laugh till I cried as the Sergeant, with such a difficult role as you wouldn’t wish on someone three times her age. She never missed a line and sailed through all the set pieces as if she had been doing it for 30 years. The same has to be said of enchanting Harriet Pooley as Mabel. It is inconceivable that such a mature performance could have come out of one so young. A heavenly singing voice and a characterisation that was mesmerising. I know Philly MacFarlane very well and have seen her performing with the other girls many times. What I did not know is that she is younger than them. In this production, as one of the older performers I got to see her take on a more prominent role and my word, how good she was! Powerfully acted and nicely sung as devoted older woman (ironic or what) Ruth she was wonderful. The same must also be said of Dominic King as The Pirate King (it was his destiny). Mr King is not as confident as Miss MacFarlane but he is charismatic and a perfect choice for this pivotal role. He too has an improving singing voice. It has to be said that when it comes to singing voices, Chloe Philipot takes a lot of beating. Not just sweet and intoxicating but technically accomplished as well. Her mother sings like and angel so it is clearly in the genes. Playing a male part this time, and with the music going a little low at times, Miss Philipot took it all in her stride as she all but stole the show as the 21year-old Frederic, the slave of duty. In fact, all that stood in her way was the acting colossus that is known locally as Sam Lord. From his first entrance to his last exit, Mr Lord owned the stage and indeed the production with his Modern Major General patter song the undisputed highlight of an exceptional production. To him penultimate paragraph honours are emphatically given. Bravo! Mrs B. That must have taken a bit of doing. Great acting, a little dancing and some remarkable singing all held together with discipline, enthusiasm and some very tidy directing. My compliments also to pianist, Kate Mould. A Watlington legend and (I suspect) a very patient lady. Well done to both directors and all the cast and crew. A brilliant night’s entertainment that put a smile on my face that just will not go.

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