The Unlikely Holiday - Zorro, The Panto!

Prior to attending Phoenix Player’s latest production, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of a panto based around the character of Zorro – which is certainly an original choice!  So it was in a mood of expectant uncertainty that I arrived at the Methodist Hall.  This was soon to be transformed into a broad smile, as the Players delivered a fast-paced and very entertaining show full of zany, irreverent humour. 

The plot centred around the arrival of Diego (aka Zorro) and his trusty sidekick Javi in the sleepy backwater of Stratford-upon-Avon, intent on a holiday.  But they were soon enmeshed in a crisis as a much loved ‘lucky’ statue (actually, more of a statuette!) went missing from the church, leading the townsfolk to fear for their safety.  Might the brooding, black-clad baddie Don Malvado and his band of henchmen have something do with it?  Well, what do you think?!

Baz Stilinksi led the cast as the sword-swishing Zorro, and his rather bashful and clueless alter-ego, Diego.  He was ably supported by Fiona Robson as the trusty (and randomly wing-wearing), Javi.  Meg Harris turned in an eye-catching, winning performance as leading lady Elena, and Graham Robson made the most of his opportunities and a stream of suitably corny jokes as Wiggy, the Dame.  Also on the side of the good guys was Rachel Harris as Harry – sporting a comedy accent straight out of The Archers!  

As the very boo-able baddie Don Malvado, Nick Johnson had something of Alan Rickman’s Sheriff of Nottingham about him, and had a sidekick of his own in Philip Leigh’s scene-stealing Hag (I particularly enjoyed his leading of the song that started act 2.)  A trio of hapless henchmen were formed by Rob Warnes (Hammer), Andi Hardy (Nails) and Lisa Cowley (Bubbles – an accidental henchman who thought she was signing up to be a Frenchman!)  These three enjoyed several good scenes, including a funny sequence in which they tried to turn almost every line into a song and dance, and a slapstick wallpapering sketch to end the first half.   Adam Rastall played an equivocating Father, regularly heckled even before he was revealed as a bit of a bad ‘un – well, we were told to boo the guy in black!

Samm Lees, as Diva, guided us through the proceedings with aplomb, regularly interrupting to keep us on track (for example when the cast veered a bit too far west with their Irish opening!) and treating us to a very good version of ‘Whatever Happened to My Part’.  The eight strong ensemble (plus David Dunn and John Jaeger as a couple of characterful doormen) provided great support as a variety of townsfolk, all savouring their moments in the spotlight and delivering some nice song and dance numbers (well done to choreographer Chloe McDonald), particularly in the closing song ‘Reach’.  And congratulations to Will Gorst, a member of the ensemble who had to stand in and deliver a number of lines at very short notice, and who showed himself a natural born comic.

This was a show with an emphasis on fun, and the time certainly flew by in very enjoyable fashion.  I liked the little touches – the finger clickings, an extended nooooo, the ‘Church of Barlow’, and of course Zorro’s signature sword swish, complete with dramatic music!  I was a little bit confused at the beginning, where perhaps it could have been made a bit clearer who was who and how they related to each other, but any misgivings were soon overcome by a pacy performance and a group who clearly understood the first rule of panto – enjoy yourselves!

The set featured a couple of nicely painted backdrops for the town and Don Malvado’s house, and the cast were costumed in suitably colourful garb, with Diva and Wiggy in particular making their way through a series of impressive outfits.  Steve Bird provided good musical accompaniment for the songs, which I was pleased to see were belted out by the cast without resorting to radio mics.  The show was well directed by Callum McCormick (who also wrote the script) and Karen McDonald, although I did wonder why space could not have been found on stage for Hammer, Nails and Bubbles during the denouement.  

My thanks to Phoenix Players for inviting me, and for putting on such a fun and entertaining show.  I had a big smile on my face from start to finish, and you can’t really ask for much more than that!  I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

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