Robin Hood & the Babes in the Wood

The pantomime at Ovingham comes a little earlier this year.  Usually it closes my panto season around March!  As always, Jim Wardle was deeply involved in the nuts and bolts of the show – design, direction, choreography and the set, with which he had the assistance of “all”.  Ovingham probably considers itself bigger than “a village” these days, but there is always a village hall feel to the company’s productions.  Locals wander in on spec for tickets and everyone seems to know each other.  Although some of us strive for great things in big theatres, this feels like the heart of amateur theatre, exhibiting a distinct Englishness which I find very comforting.
 
As the title suggests this show, by Alan P Frayn, is something of a “mash-up” of two tales.  Principal girl, Lorraine White, played Robin Hood; a charming newcomer, Jane Hamilton, played Maid Marian; an evil villain (“Oh, yes he is”), Malcolm Lowerson, played the Sheriff of … Ovingham.  Then we veered off into fairytaleland with Paul Kelly as Nurse Nellie Nickerlastic, and Richard Heslop and Teresa Baird as slightly elderly Babes.  Lorraine was a fine, upstanding Robin, Jane exhibited a very nice singing voice. Malcolm was not hissed or booed quite as loudly as he deserved.  Maybe the audience knew he was alright really.  Paul was a suitably attractive Dame!  I was never quite sure the humour he brought out was intended but he had some very funny moments.  The Babes were a hoot.
 
Ian Heslop, as Friar Tuck, wandered amiably through the proceedings, exhibiting a fine wig/bald pate.
Peter Pescod was hilarious as Little John.  He threw away his lines to great effect and had a fine bank of grotesque facial expressions with which to keep the audience close to hysteria.

Music was in the hands of Justin Radford at the piano, who created a mini orchestra with a little electronic assistance.  The numbers where often quite rock’n’roll in style, so I knew all of the words. According to the programme, there may have been as many as 22 people on the really quite small stage at any one time.  The ensemble numbers were performed enthusiastically and, on occasion, I think the audience were twitching to sing along, gently, and even dance!  I spotted only one child in the audience but the rest of us were content to be referred to as boys and girls and joined in gamely when we remembered what we were supposed to be saying.  Every audience member knew exactly what to expect and left the Reading Room with a contented pre-Christmas smile on his or her face.

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