Robin Hood

Well now “Robin Hood” the Pantomime, What can I say? Well to start, an absolutely brilliant night’s entertainment! I can’t begin to tell you what the plot was, but it didn’t matter. Harlequin could have performed the Phone Book and it would still have been a great night’s entertainment.

What we did get was a bunch of weird and wonderful characters from Dame Tuck, a Fairy with a pink wig to a Horse called Camilla!

The show started with a narration from three zany Woodland Nymphs, Head Nymph, aptly named “Cynth” (Charlotte Harding) “Daisychayne” (Luke Robinson) and “Daffadahlia” (Chloe Louise Kitson) who tried to keep us up to date with the plot with a wonderful array of songs and verse.

The other Principles were equally fabulous with terrific performances from Elicia Farmer as The main man “Robin Hood”, Beth Bloxham as “Maid Marion”, Garry Robinson in his first Principle role as “Medium John” aided by Kate Pingree-Webber as “Em”.

A special mention for one of the youngest cast members, Aaron Hodgetts as “Little Will”, what a talented young man!

Excellent supporting performances also from Pete Pingree as “Sir Cumference”, Marcus Perry as “Sir Ramic” and James Campbell “Sir Vailance”, not forgetting Jo Perry as “Mad Mavis and Dawn Corfield as the loveable nag “Camilla”

A stroke of genius by the Director was to add a drunken Fairy dressed in pink apparently a leftover from last year’s production, desperately trying to get on stage but never quite managing it. Hilarious!

For me the stars of the show were Paul Bowman as “Dame Tuck” who instantly had the audience eating out of his hand, simply one of the best Dames in the business and Dominic Napier as the “Sheriff of Nottingham” who was such a good baddie that he got one of the biggest cheers of the night. It’s hard to believe that this was his debut performance in Pantomime as it was flawless!

Much credit must go to the production team of Ian Jones (Director), Tim Harding (Musical Director) and Lisa Farmer (Choreographer) who put together such a colourful, witty, very different type of Pantomime.

The sets, lighting and sound complimented the Production so well as did the Back Stage crew who do an amazing job in transforming this centre into a full working theatre.

They say that children are the best measure of a Pantomime and my seven year old Goddaughter gave this one a huge “thumbs up”!

My Thanks also to the Front of House team for a wonderfully warm welcome and I look forward to next year’s production of “Aladdin” with much excitement.

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