The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe... (Almost!)

The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe… (Almost!)

Presented by

Stone Revellers

Stone Revellers continue to lift the spirits and faith in community theatre. Despite setbacks with summer fire vandalism destroying their storage unit, the locals have rallied round and overcome.

Director and panto script writer Simone Plant has created a classic. Very funny script, beautifully delivered double-entendres, all wrapped up in a good storyline. She got the best from her competent veterans, you know the ones twenty-four upwards and some newbies, delivering lines clearly and timed to perfection.

Neil Norman opens the show as the ghost of Purple Beard the Pirate and villainous mastermind behind the story, cunningly enticing the unwitting Mayor Goodfellow of Rotten Bottom, never to be confused with local rival town Stinky Bottom, Dennis Abbott, to don a cursed medallion filled with the cruel greed of a thousand pirates! With his medallion around his neck, his personality changes, he triples Rotten Bottoms’ rents and acts horribly to everyone. So horrible he dumps his fiancé Mrs Priscilla Nutt, Sean Galloghly.  

The Mayor discovered Purple Beard’s treasure map; the long-lost booty is hidden beneath the floorboards of the Nutt household. He enlists the help of two henchmen, brothers Borage and Bay Herb, played by Mandy Gauge and Joe Jenkinson respectively, to evict the Nutt family.

Mrs Nutt taking charge of her so many children, moves her brood into a giant’s cast-off boot. Aided and abetted by elder sons Tom, Hannah Adams, and Matt Wright as Caractacus, So good they Schwepped us away with much amusement, especially when her nine youngsters were involved, their nod to the classic Abbott and Costello skit “Who’s on First”, timed to perfection, was brilliant.

Love interest (essential, of course), Penny Goodfellow, charmingly played by Hannah Wright, added a lovely, sweet appeal to her scenes with Tom. Charlotte Andrews as Daisy fancied the pants of Caractacus; indeed, one pair were so tiny she nearly succeeded. Great interaction between all of the cast, but the comic pairings shone in particular. Drunken Henchmen, Excellent.

Musical Director Kath Stanway led her band well throughout. Lighting used to good effect, as was the set design, very effective use of hinged walls. Costumes excellent, good attention to detail, Chef’s toque blanche, used to great comic affect. 

Brilliantly funny one-liners throughout, hugely tickled the relevant bones of the audience. The only real issue was the in ter mi tt e nt microphones in a couple of the songs which distracted from the performances. The team are aware of the issue and will be rectified.

I love the great tradition of Pantomime. Quintessential British humour, great audience interaction, funny on so many levels. Simply, great fun, a happy ending de regur of course. Big tip of the hat to writer Simone Plant, well done.

 

 

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