Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood

Another (almost) traditional pantomime that was, as I understand, your usual sell-out so very many congratulations on yet another great achievement.  I say almost traditional because I found some of the gags just a bit too smutty at times for a production aimed at children, innuendo or double entendre is fine as the children often miss those but the adults enjoy them – but maybe that is just me being old fashioned – I leave that to you!

As always, I just love the live music which really adds to the whole atmosphere and your MD, Dave joins in and becomes an integral part of the whole occasion, without in any way distracting from the performance.  However, I did find some of the songs chosen very strange, a couple positively maudlin, causing some of the children to really lose interest.

Thank you for the lighting – which was just so much better this year – not strobe and flashing (which I and many other people really struggle with) but chasing shapes and colours were much easier on the eye – that said I still find them very distracting and can’t really see the point. 

The costumes looked great bright and colourful, and lots of big smiles from the members of the chorus too – they looked as if they were enjoying themselves and therefore so did the audience. Unfortunately, I was unable to find anywhere in the programme which group of children we were watching, I am assuming it was Arrows.  Neither was I able to find the full name of the director.   

I found the whole pace a bit slow, especially the finale which was fast becoming painful.  I can only assume that there had been some unforeseen problems as the curtain, advised as coming in at 10.05, did not actually come in until 10.20pm (I even saw a couple of children carried out – fast asleep).

Generally, the singing and acting were good, with some great facial expressions and the whole cast and crew, in fact Preston Musical Comedy Society are to be heartily congratulated on another sell out show.

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