Puss in Boots

This story of a talking cat in human form (anthropomorphic if you want the posh word) pre-dates Lloyd Webber’s musical and even T.S. Eliot’s poems by a few centuries.  Perhaps not the best known example of the pantomime genre, it’s nevertheless been around for a while and the story has also led to a few films.  

We are introduced to the scenario here by Jemma Bunting whose expert narration in rhyme guides us through the events in this mythical kingdom.  It seems that our hero, Jack (why are so many pantomime characters so called?) has recently lost his father, has inherited only a cat and both are now in the care of his aunt, Dame Hettie Quette. He is determined to marry the Princess but must fight off the attentions of a rival, Lord Roger and earn the approval of the King and Queen, especially the latter.

It is, of course, Puss who is instrumental in ensuring that her master achieves his ambition and survives all their adventures.  Laura Kennedy gave an excellent performance in this role and, although disguised in a cat mask, behind was a happy, smiling face whilst her constant cat-like moves and expressive hand gestures were impressive. Her boots were good too. Lindsey Martin clearly enjoyed the opportunity of taking the principal boy role (Jack) and quickly gained our support in the task of winning the heart of the Princess. This proves no easy task as the young lady is clearly equally determined to make her own choice in matrimonial matters rather than simply to fall in with her parents’ plans.  Robyn Place succeeded in combining the charm we expect from such a character with the rather feisty attitude necessary here.  It’s her mother, Queen Mildred, who is the more vocal of the Royal parents and one likes to think that being rather bossy is not part of Doreen Driffield’s natural characteristics and so we were experiencing another display of her fine acting skills. Ian Hague appeared as the long suffering King and clearly had not heard that there were kings who had disposed of several wives for lesser offences.  On a more topical note, he did replicate actions of U.S. Presidents in pardoning some of his subjects who must earlier have strayed,

A rather unusual feature of the script here is that the Dame has few opportunities to establish the rapport with the audience which is often one of that character’s functions. Perhaps it’s because here she is seen as being rather more up-market, a proprietor of an academy teaching deportment and elocution, rather than a washer-woman or similar. Indeed, the plan to assist Jack to appear as a member of the aristocracy, the better to woo the Princess, has something of a “Pygmalion” moment. David Bunting did his best with the material he was given, which provided him with few really hilarious scenes.

That’s not to say there’s little humour in the show. The lines early on: “That’s no laughing matter” and then “We’ve read the script!” are not justified; it’s more that it’s mainly left to other characters, chiefly Lord Roger’s s henchmen, the King brothers, Nosmo(king) and Nopar(king), nicely played by John Pearce and Jessica Ramsey respectively.  Sporting the red braces which now seem to be a favourite masculine accessory, it was they who had the task of establishing that cut and thrust with the audience, but they quickly did so and we obeyed instructions as to how we should greet their entries. Every pantomime needs a villain and here it was Jack’s rival for the hand of the Princess, Lord Roger, who filled that role. Rich McCulloch gave a good performance, extracting an appropriate number of boos from his first appearance and perhaps even our sympathy after a proposal in a dark cave results in a marriage with Dame Hettie.

The cast was completed by a number of villagers and tradespeople – an axe-wielding lumberjack, a shepherd complete with lamb, a florist and a barmaid and special mention should be made of Holly Shaw who, after completing her duties as a cabbage seller, turns into a large dragon which terrorises several of the cast later on. Dancers from Studio 3 Dance Workshop added to the entertainment and the two remaining members of the blue team at the performance I attended did especially well despite the absence through illness of their third member.  This is the Director’s first experience of that role and so she deserves congratulations for her work in putting together a good production with excellent lighting and good use of entrances through the auditorium, a sensible move with a small stage and backstage area.  Set and costumes were also effective.

The word “feline” is associated with cats and my dictionary defines this as “graceful, flowing or smooth”, all of which could equally be applied to this production.                                                                            

 

 

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