Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood

This was my first visit to Blackmore and a very enjoyable evening it was.   The Players performed a traditional pantomime with enthusiasm, gusto and great style.  The script was terrific, well-constructed and providing the cast with plenty of opportunities for panto ‘stuff’.   The choice of songs was good, with some good standards that were familiar enough to the audience.  The words had been changed in some of them so that they fitted in well with the storyline.  That is such a pleasant experience when, very often, panto songs are just put in for the sake of it and the fact that they are the current pop favourite.

Every single member of the cast, from the Brownies to the Principals, produced excellent performances.  Their projection was good; even without mics, we heard every word and it was a joy to see the audience participating with hardly any prompting.  Clearly the panto tradition is alive and well in Blackmore.

All the Principals played their roles well, I loved Keith Goody as Nurse Trott; his was an excellent pantomime Dame with the talent for building a good rapport with the audience.  He was aided and abetted by James Hughes who produced an outstanding performance as Will Scarlett.  They made a terrific on-stage partnership and I look forward to seeing them again in the future.

Amy Pudney (Robin Hood) has good stage presence and, with Jenny Pavitt (Maid Marion) made a nice couple.   Lisa Rawlings (Fairy of Sherwood) and Glenys Young (Mortiagga) kept the story on track, both gave good performances.   Bill Edwards made an excellent villain in the form of the Sheriff and Sandra Trott and Rhys Burrell were terrific as the traditional foolish baddies, Bill and Ricky.  Their timing and, indeed, the timing of the whole company was excellent.

Other Principal parts were played by Adam Hughes (Little John) Sarah Tayler (Britney, giving the opportunity for one of the best punch lines in the show) Linda Raymond (Mother Tuck) and Director Craig Stevens standing in as Alan A Dale.  Thomas Hughes and Emma Thwaite played the hapless Babes and there was a nice cameo part from Simon Haskell as King Richard.

I must mention the puppets; their appearance was simply delightful and something a little bit different, elevating this production above the norm for panto.

The production moved at a good pace and the action didn’t falter.  Just as well as, with the interval, the show lasted over two and a half hours.  That really is a little too long for a show where there are children in the audience; it’s no wonder that a few of them had fallen asleep before the finale.  

However that is a minor criticism of what was an excellent evening’s entertainment in the true tradition of pantomime, the ‘gags’ were all there but they were not  laboured.

The scenery was excellent and the changes made smoothly and, in the main, quietly.  Lighting was very good, timed right for the action onstage and some of the special lighting was very effective.  Costumes were excellent, well co-ordinated and of high quality.

Directors Craig Stevens and John Hughes produced an excellent show which was very well received by the appreciative, if a little crowded audience.

Thank you Blackmore players for inviting me to join you in your annual pantomime, I had a great time, can I come back next year please?

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