Space Odyssey : The Pantomime

This original story, written by director Russell Adams told of the efforts of a spaceship captain and his wife to find a suitable lady friend for their somewhat "challenged" son Horace. As the villainous, but henpecked captain Vlad, Douglas Clark was in excellent form. With clear diction and impressive scarlet costume he commanded the stage and everyone on it apart from his wife Svetlana (Freda Adams) who controlled him! Other spaceship crew members included Spick and Speck (Mary Miller and Emily Esson) who carried the comedy of the piece with ease. Love-lorn Horace was ably played by Robert Affleck who was suitably spoiled by his domineering mother. Final crew member was iPatch the computer, cleverly depicted and played by Bill Barclay. Leading the "earthlings" was Nellie Packit, superbly portrayed by Garry Brindley, the superbly traditional panto dame, who managed to include "commercial breaks" for the company's sponsors. As the ever-necessary fairy Sophie Angus was beautiful but could have projected a bit more to cope with the lack of microphone assistance. The romantic couple, Bonnie Packit (Rosie Hall) and Prince Valiant (Kirsty Lockhart) were in excellent voice and the talented cast was completed by Pete Smith as Costa Packit and Tim Roberts as the robot Gordon - he WAS alive!! Beautiful costumes and well-drilled choreography by the young chorus made for a most enjoyable evening of panto. Well done.

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