Robinson Crusoe & The Pirates

S.S. Simon & Jude’s Pantomime this year has a new temporary venue at Trinity Methodist Church, Farnworth. This makes no difference to the audience with capacity full. The stage slightly smaller than usual they made good use of it, with Davy Jones’ locker stage left and in front of the curtains - porthole covered in seaweed and rocks and skeleton hand. Various scenes were then portrayed - the docks, on board ship, underwater and the island. Stage Team Richard Cooper, Colin Dean, Kamila Hagen and David Crank. Props Kath Cheetham. Lighting and Sound Wayne Gibson and Sam Dickinson.

The costumes were all fitting and a lovely colour scheme of gold, cream and black for the finale looked stunning. Wardrobe by Stella Crank, Chris Wynn and Julie Cunningham. A note - I thought the costumes of the islanders where tastefully handled. Choreographer was Jennifer Cooper and there were some very cute little dancers who looked to be having a ball as did the older chorus.

New director this year is Helena Alice who is known for treading the boards in a few other societies in Bolton. Good use of the stage and coming through audience were used well but I did think the older end of the chorus could have been made more of - especially when the ship was sinking. Cast were David Crank as Davy Jones and Hocus Pocus. Colin Dean as Captain Seasalt, Suzanne Smith as Margarita Juicilita. Emma Cunningham, Mumbo Jumbo and in her first cast role, Francesca Hutching as Friday. Well done.

Jennifer Cooper takes on Captain Cut-Throat with one eye and a hook for a hand had the audience booing at her. Nicola Walsh as Skull Duggery with wooden leg and Lyndsay Shepperd as Cross-Bones with one eye worked well together and kept the corny jokes coming true panto style. Vanessa Dean-Boardman as Coral (Spirit of the Seas) swaps roles this year to tread the boards giving a magical presence and resolving matters. Lovely.

Caitlin Owen was Robinson Crusoe as principal boy, great energy and great voice -she worked well with Hannah Bowerbank as principal girl who takes on her first lead role – again, lovely voice. I just wished we could have seen more of them when they did their duet at the back of the stage. Hope to see more of Hannah. Finally last but not least is John Gordon playing Nutty Nick. Wow what a find, he comes with funny bones he was hilarious. Although I did wonder at his blue tongue ?(!) which added to the hilarity (what had he eaten?) - hope to see more of him.

Thank you from my guest Ursula and I for the invite. Inclusivity is always evident - having seen your pantomimes before - and this creates a lovely feeling of community at its best.

Liz Hume-Dawson

Rep 5

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