Robin Hood The Pantomime

I was warmly welcomed on arrival by Chair Julia Clarke and also met with Sam McCarthy, the Director.

This was a really traditional family pantomime with plenty of corny jokes and slapstick and the audience was lively and engaged throughout.

The set consisted of colourful backdrops and curtains each showing scenes of Nottingham Town, the Castle and importantly Sherwood Forest. Scene changes were fairly fluent with occasional lively background music used to distract the audience. A small number of props were used. The costumes were mostly sourced in house and were very attractive and relevant to the characters, Nanny Nora, the Dame had many changes of dress all of which were extravagant and flamboyant with accompanying ostentatious wigs! Were the wig malfunctions accidental or planned? It really didn’t matter as they added to the general hilarity. Lighting including use of spots was good and helped to enhance the scenes and sound levels were just right with all the cast heard clearly.

The music was to backing tracks and Musical Director Phoebe Wiggett had worked well with the cast to produce some first class numbers and solos. Well done.

Choreography was varied and movement around the stage was well planned and effective. The well rehearsed cast and ensemble numbers were all performed in time. I thought that the four dancers performed some complicated and energetic routines very confidently and I enjoyed watching them. Choreographer Teegan Deeks had carefully matched the abilities of the cast to the movements which worked well.

The principals were well cast, confident and all performed to a great level. Good use was made of front of tabs/curtain throughout.

Adam Parkes was a believable Robin Hood who visibly gained in confidence and perfected the art of thigh slapping! The beautiful Maid Marion played by Cassie Weston was Robin’s love interest quickly earning the confidence of the Merry Men of Sherwood Forest. Marian and Robin sang a lovely duet with You and Me (but Mostly Me) their voices blending well together.

I loved the part of Nanny Nora played in traditional Dame absurdity by Peter Norfolk.

He packed enormous energy into the role and delighted the children in the audience.

Tom Hume-Steer was Much, a character who reacted well with the audience to encourage booing and hissing and general participation. He took this important continuity role well and had a solo of I Want To Break Free. He also helped with the children’s song and talent contest. The evil star of the show was the Sheriff extremely well characterised by Simon Hipkin. He looked villainous, he spoke menacingly and he certainly was sinister! Very well acted.

The funny and silly characters Nickit and Scarper were played by Scarlett Wiggett and Jade Kennedy who were so energetic and busy with stupid actions and arguments that the audience loved them.

Zoe Baird in a sweet and gentle role sparkled as the Forest Enchantress ie a good fairy. Another role which I really enjoyed was the Soothsayer well performed by Katie Johnson. Her voice and physique were exactly right for the part.

The Merry Men, Alana Dale, Wilma Scarlet, Little Joan and Friar Tuck were well played by Gabby Dean, Debbie Cohen, Claire Townley and Royston Wilson. In addition there were a number of small parts all important to the plot and the action on stage.

Well done to everyone involved and special congratulations to Director Sam McCarthy, aided by Peter Norfolk, for his creativity and enthusiasm in producing this traditional pantomime but with a modern twist.

We thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

 

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