Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates

I've said it before but, as I see quite a few pantomimes each year, it's always comforting to watch one by Alan Frayn.  He provides a traditional script allowing the company to hang their own ideas on a solid framework.  This afternoon as the curtain opens, we are taken straight to Brazil for a tale of pirates, treasure, a little cross-dressing, a lot of laughs and ultimately, a little romance. Talking of cross-dressing, we have larger than life Dan Gowers as the Dame, Margareta Jucilita, who dominates any scene he/she appears in.  He is ably assisted by his less-than-gifted son, Nutty Nick (Lee Robinson) and they both work well and amusingly together, with the remainder of the cast and with the audience.

Robinson Crusoe is attractively played by principal boy, Bob Justham, who looks only slightly more masculine after drawing a pencil thin moustache on the top lip.  Together with Lizzie Hodgson as Juanita, they make an attractive couple, providing a romantic aspect to proceedings. Juanita is the daughter of a British Merchant Navy officer, Captain Seasalt (Bill Clegg), a slightly more serious character, whose crew have deserted.  This is awkward, as he needs to set sail for a desert island in search of treasure!  He recruits healthy young Robinson and our Dame, Margarita to help out.

Meanwhile, we encounter not one but two (that's two, count them) baddies in the form of Cut-Throat (the ever reliable Ray Moore) and Davy Jones (a very colourful T T Arvind) from beneath the waves, both of whom endeavour to create mayhem in their respective realms.  Davy Jones has his nemesis in Coral, the Spirit of the Seas (Liz Lake) who pops up enchantingly throughout the proceedings to sprinkle a little magic on behalf of the good guys. There are also a couple of less-than-bright pirates, Cross-Bones (Lorraine White) and Skull-Duggery (Sue Douglas) who provide definite comic relief whenever they appear.  We also have a witch doctor, Hocus Pocus (Keith Laidlow) and a cannibal queen, Mumbo Jumbo (Nicky Irvine) who both pop up from time to time much to the amusement of the audience.  Plus Poll the parrot (Nicky Irvine),  with a very colourful costume and a sardonic sense of humour.  And finally, a very benign Friday in the form of the very amiable Jim Wardle.  Need I say, it all works out nicely in the end.

My last show as Regional Rep.  And a very entertaining and amusing one it was - not always intentionaly!  Thanks you guys!  I will miss you all..  .   

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