Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates

This review is of the technical/dress rehearsal of Bunbury Players 2014 pantomime.  

Impressively starting almost on time, we buckled our swash and set sail with Robinson, Captain Seasalt and Nutty Nick.   Along the way, we met a band of marauding pirates – Cut-Throat, Cross-Bones and Skull-Duggery: not to mention the delicious Dame – Señorita Margarita Juicilita which explained the opening scene being set in Brazil (as opposed to Hull, York or Plymouth, as is usually the case).

Setting the scene for us was Coral, Spirit of the Seas well-played by Joanna Turvey set on keeping the goodies safe whilst thwarting the underwater baddie Davy Jones.   Gareth Lloyd as Margarita Juicilita was, the programme informed us, playing a dame for the first time and a jolly good job he made of it too.  Aided by ‘her’ daft son Nutty Nick played with great energy by Craig Long these two kept the audience involved throughout.

I loved the Pirates Darren Hitchings as Captain Cut-Throat, Glen Hussien as Skull-Duggery and especially Katie Beckett as Cross-Bones who gave it everything.  They all worked together so well and I am sure Skull-Duggery knew the words to the songs by the opening night.  

All good pantos have a love interest and this one was no different with an excellent principal boy in the shape of Lacey Kiefer who strutted about and thigh-slapped to the manner born as Robinson and Alisha taking on her first principal role as Robinson’s love interest Juanita.  I found Alisha very difficult to hear though so maybe a little more projection is needed from this young actress but she obviously has potential. Captain Seasalt (Peter Rouse) was also difficult to hear due mainly to his rather hesitant delivery.

Flip Miller as Mumbo Jumbo the Cannibal Queen and Jacob Wallace as the witch Doctor Hocus Pocus both gave good accounts of themselves as did Bobby Mather bouncing around in a very colourful parrot costume as Poll and Harrison Southgate as Friday, although again volume and projection was a problem.

The backcloths were excellent and the large props very good.  I think the slap-stick cookery scene went a bit awry but it was a tech run so I forgave them.  Congratulations though to whoever edited together the music for the underwater UV scene it was excellent and the UV itself very creative.

I have to make a special mention of the Ensemble, Ana Caldwell-Rutter, Esther Starling, Alyce Fulcher and Anna Marie House, they did a great job.  Congratulations on some excellent dancing which did full justice to Gareth Lloyd’s choreography.

I haven’t mentioned the performance of Davy Jones played by Darren Mather as he was also directing whilst dashing on at the relevant time but from what I saw I am sure he made a great baddie.

I am sure all the little problems were ironed out at the dress run and as tech runs go I thought this was a good one. It was obvious to me that this company had the makings of a really fun show, which from what I have since heard, played to full houses and appreciative audiences.

Well done Bunburys!

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