A Pantomime by Mark Frampton

January 2001

The classic fairytale, with all the traditional trimmings of the glass slipper, the ugly sisters and the fairy godmother, plus a few new twists including the giant from Jack and the Beanstalk, and all wrapped up in an ABBA soundtrack.

Cast

Buttons Karrie Shield
Giant Terry Clark
Velcro Ken Beer
Zip Cath Staton
Cinderella Sarah Lawes
Baroness Hardup Brenda West
Agnetha Paul West
Frida Joseph Hughes
Baron Hardup Barry West
Dandini Phil Kohler
Prince Charming Guy Bishop
Fairy Godmother Chris Ward
King Rat John Staton
Prat Ruth Bishop
Brat Ken Beer
Creampuff Cath Staton

Crew

Producer Mark Frampton
Co-producer Ruth Bishop
Stage Manager Jim Melville
Set Design Teresa Coles McGee
Set Construction Jim Melville, Chris & Christine Sutton, Chris & Ian Squire, Mike Calvert & Teresa Coles McGee
Sound Chris Pearson
Lighting Ian Squire
Props Jill Mowlam & Christine Sutton
Prompt Hazel Galvin
Mrs Piano Lady Jenny Smith
Front of House Chris Squire
Refreshments Chris Squire
Ticket Sales Ken Beer & Hazel Galvin
Publicity Joseph Hughes

Review

From the Leamington Courier:

Hissing and Booing, I Was Having a Ball

The Players billed this as a “traditional pantomime” and that’s exactly what it was and all the better for it.
I had not seen a pantomime for some time and had forgotten what a peculiar institution the genre is, but was soon hissing and booing along with the rest of a packed village hall.
Writer and producer Mark Frampton should be commended for a night of awful Carry On-style double-entendres – often verging on the very edge of a parental guidance certificate – some of the most pleasingly unrealistic drag acts seen this side of Bangkok and enough ‘oh no it isn’ts’ to bring the many children in the audience to near hysteria.
The story is age-old, but performed here with some very effective and very silly modern touches, from Chris Ward’s motorcycling fairy godmother and Dame Edna voice to Prince Charming number two and ex-chiropodist, Dandini.
Sarah Lawes was Cinders herself, suitably repressed by menacing Baroness Hardup and hairy stepsisters Agnetha and Frida.
All was acted in suitably extravagant style to an Abba soundtrack, with good performances from across the cast and a star turn from Cubbington youngsters Samantha and friends – invited up on stage to sing The Wheels on the Bus… It helped this panto to hit the spot.
It also reinforced the early impression that community spirit was an integral part of the plot for this production and this excellent and tight-knit theatre group. 4/5