Scrooge the Pantomime

One has to be impressed with the effort taken by HATS to turn their village hall into an auditorium, for they not only build their stage complete with proscenium arch but also manage to create a warm and friendly atmosphere too.

Scrooge the Panto is a new one on me but this NODA script has much potential and director Jill Enefer set out to make the most of it. Sticking (almost) to Dickens's famous storyline for A Christmas Carol, this version has his counting house as a factory full of downtrodden workers with an even more, if it were possible, downtrodden factory foreman by the name of Bob Cratchit.  Scrooge still mean, miserable and visited by ghosts and spirits is now also dogged by Nora Carrott the factory’s formidable tea lady.

  

I must commend the chorus members - both adults and children.  They were all so absolutely loving their involvement that one could not help but join in their enjoyment.  They all did a good job of carrying out what was required of them on the small stage and there were quite a lot of them too!

Richard Brighton’s Scrooge could have been a bit ‘meaner’ but that didn’t stop us greeting him with loud boos at his every appearance.  There were several good supporting performances notably by Faith Quinlisk, in fine voice as Polly, Zak McGarry as Scrooge’s nephew Frederick, Mila Ottevanger splendid as the Ghost of Christmas Past and Brenda Willison suitably boisterous as the Ghost of Christmas Present.  This is to take nothing away from the members of the lovely Cratchit family led by Stephen Enefer as Bob, nor from the numerous ghosts and phantoms including the chain rattling Graham Whitaker as Jacob Marley.  However, panto stands (or falls) on the shoulders on the dame and Gary Sander as Nora Carrott did a good job.  His rapport with the audience was excellent and why everyone thinks it funny when someone falls over has always mystified me but the fact is - it is - and Ms Carrott did it so well. 

Some excellent costumes and stage cloths/scenery added to the show but the piece de resistance was the NIFF (Nora’s Incredible Food Factory) machine which turned scraps of food into a huge roast Christmas Dinner - eventually!

HATS obviously have an all “inclusive” policy with their casts as every single member was given their ‘moment’.  Well done director Jill Enefer and to all involved with this show. Although it may have lacked pace in places we still had a good laugh and an enjoyable evening. 

 

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