Scrooge the Panto

I don’t often say that I would happily sit through a show for a second time but I would have been quite happy to see DTS’s outstanding performance of Scrooge again.  With virtually no scenery apart from a well used balcony and a few built in props they brought the whole show to life through an excellent script by Trevor Wakefield (A noda script and a name worth remembering), a good choice of songs well sung, brilliant costumes, really polished dance routines but above all, some memorable acting. Ebeneezer Scrooge was played outstandingly by Mark Barnes. His three stages of character from bad tempered, miserly, miserable old man through the terrors of seeing his life as depicted by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future to the transformation into a jovial, cheerful ‘happy chappy’ were very cleverly and convincingly portrayed. Andre Dore once again gave an excellent performance as Nora Carrot, the Dame, who lit up the stage with his exuberance.  His duet with Scrooge, ‘I remember it well’, was sheer delight, his jokes were never smutty, very well delivered and not overdone.  His cooking scene with a very clever oven, was a delight to watch.  This involved Tracey Shaughnessy and Emma Godden (Sam and Ella) the two kitchen maids who were another outstanding pair on stage. I loved their scene with the fake hand.  Kim Logan (Polly) and Zoe Green (Frederic) made a good pair as the love essence in a show where love is fairly low on the agenda.  They sang well together and acted the part with conviction as did Malcolm Stuart as Jacob Marley.  He was astounding at managing to remember an immensely long piece of dialogue without a pause. There were a large number of minor principals who all performed their various character role well adding to the general professionalism of the whole production. Apart from the Crachit Family there were no young children in this production.  These five youngsters performed well, spoke out clearly and made their cameo scenes very watchable.  The chorus of eight young adults added greatly to the show with their singing and dancing especially the opening number depicting a parcel distribution centre. Other good numbers consisted of ‘Any Old Iron’ and ‘Nice cup of Tea’ and a rousing finish with ‘Thank you very Much’. Great.

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