The Pied Piper

A very warm welcome greeted me at the Loddon Players’ pantomime The Pied Piper, from everyone involved in this annual production. There was a lovely touch upon arrival — a handmade cookie given to each audience member — a heartwarming gift that set the tone for the evening. Thank you.

The cast, without exception, had exactly the right approach to their characters. The baddies were convincingly bad, the goodies were wonderfully good. Everyone worked well together — as individuals, in duos, in groups, and as an ensemble. The addition of the Funky Feet Dancers, as ever, enhanced the overall production, combining tradition with style. This collaborative ethos created a vital connection with the audience, which is essential in this type of performance. The show was funny and engaging from beginning to end.

The director and production team clearly worked hard to make this panto a credit to all involved. The script was written from scratch by Steve Burton, and the props, sets, and costumes were all handmade — a testament to the immense time and effort put in, which was evident in every aspect of the production.

There was great attention to detail, especially with the recurring sausage theme, which appeared in every scene — down to Frank and Furter’s socks with the monogram "F" and the repeated “Frankfurter” gag. I particularly enjoyed the clever moment where a little girl, dressed as a hot dog, was cooked on stage and then put in a bun — a delightful costume change done live and executed brilliantly.

The sausage theme also featured in audience participation, with the audience split in half to sing "10 Fat Sausages Sizzling in a Pan," which was handled with confidence and humour. The toy rats and rat masks were fitting, and the closing number — complete with birds and stars appearing — was wonderfully amusing.

For me, traditional pantomimes are the best, and this production had that in abundance. The shout-outs to those on the “rats list,” the sweets given to all the children in the audience, and the classic pie-in-the-face gag — all added to the fun and nostalgia.

That said, a little more movement or dance in certain scenes would have been a lovely addition. Also, encouraging individual characters to visibly react to comedic moments would help the audience follow the humour more clearly. It’s also worth being careful with the use of prompts to maintain flow.

What a wonderful evening I spent with the Loddon Players in the Bavarian Alps, enjoying The Pied Piper. Congratulations to everyone for delivering a traditional pantomime full of fun, laughter, and enjoyment for all.

 

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