Robin Hood

I always look forward to going to Langholm to visit Centre Stage Community Theatre’s pantomime. This year was no exception and I thoroughly enjoyed Robin Hood.

Witty dialogue and clever asides kept the audience engaged from curtain to final bows. The narrative flowed with each scene building upon the last in a way that never felt forced with the jokes landing with precision, and the story was accessible to children while offering plenty for adults to enjoy.

The settings were minimalistic and very effective and the scene changes with slick use of back-clothes was excellent.

The comedy sparkled throughout, with quick-witted banter and perfectly timed visual gags that had the audience chuckling away. Credit is due to the production team of Directors Judith Johnson and John Innes for a slick expertly delivered production.

The cast worked as a cohesive ensemble, each performer given space to shine while maintaining the involvement of the whole cast from the youngest juniors to the entire cast.

Ensemble numbers excellently choreographed by Donna Hislop were energetic and tightly performed and it was obvious that everyone from the youngest cast member to the more mature performers were enjoying themselves.

The principal cast was excellent throughout starting with Fairy Fern (Hannah Johnston) who kept the story going with her poetic narrative. The role of Robin Hood was played by an assertive, dashing and modest Ann Barbour. Ann not only acted the part well, but also has a good singing voice. Maid Marion was played by Vickie Bell and she and Robin worked well together with an excellent rapport whilst attempting to thwart the Sheriff from gathering taxes etc.  He was super as the baddie and Phil Bolt certainly had the audience booing nicely from start to finish. His sidekick the unfortunate Guy of Gisbourne was excellent played by Finn McVittie. The comic fool part was great and whilst he was supposed to be bad, he wasn’t really!

Of course, you can’t have a panto without a dame and Les Murray excelled as usual. From the moment he stepped onto stage he/she commanded attention with his comic timing and interaction with the audience. Costumes were a riot of colour and creativity, and his improvising skills brought an added sparkle to his scenes.

The supporting cast of Abbie Laidlaw and Darragh Hogg who played Billie and Jack respectively carried out their roles very well as did The Merry Men made up by Freya Elliot, Sophie Millar, Ava Cubbon, Lily Robinso, and Evie Richardson. They came more into the show in the second Act when helping Robin and Marion get the better of the Sheriff, which they did, and their scenes developing their strategies to get the better of the Sheriff were very good.

The scene in the castle bedroom with Billie and Jack and the skeletons (Ceara Stewart, Bella Pearson, and Ashley Johnstone) was really very good too.

Of course, the Sheriff gets his comeuppance and they all lived happily ever after just at the right time for King Richard to appear on his return from the Holy Land and this minor role was carried off by Simon Robinson.

Centre Stage have delivered another pantomime full of quality, talent, and creativity. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and well-done Centre Stage.

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