Once again, The Somborne Players delivered a fantastic family pantomime with a hilarious script, which was both entertaining for the younger members of the audience whilst keeping the adults amused and engaged with innuendo and ‘groan out loud’ jokes. The Somborne Players have gone from strength to strength with many new faces appearing this year. All three performances were sold out – word must have spread about the quality of the Somborne Players’ pantomime productions.
Their production of Babes in the Wood had all the elements of a perfect traditional pantomime; a hero, a villain, comedy, slapstick routines, audience participation, song and dance and, of course, a fantastic Dame, Nurse Molly Coddle, played by Alan Glynne Jones, returning to the players, whose performance matched many of the professional dames, in more high-profile venues
The story is set in Medieval England and King Richard is away fighting in the Crusades. The villainous Sheriff of Nottingham, Sam Judges, who never fails to deliver a polished performance, was nothing short of brilliant in his characterisation, hatches a plan to do away with the Babes, Pip and Penny (Samson Cuff and Megan Horrell), aided by his comic stooges, Block (Audrey Thomas) and Tackle (Lesley Everard-Evans). Fortunately, Robin Hood (Rebecca Rickard) and her merry band are there to thwart their plans with a bit of help from the glamorous fairy (Caroline Crump). The Babes are saved, Robin marries Maid Marion (Sian Johnston), and the Sheriff gets his just desserts!
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A special mention has to go to Audrey Thomas (in what she has said will be her last Players panto) and Lesley Everard-Evans playing the two stooges, Block and Tackle. They are a talented comic duo having paired up in many previous pantos, evidenced by the chemistry they have with each other and their ability to ad lib and interact with the audience to great comic effect.
Rory McClenaghan played Dave Knave, or Dangerous Dave as he wished to be known, the ‘wannabee’ member of Robin Hood’s merry band.
Rebecca Rickard, performed the role of Robin Hood with thigh slapping gusto supported by her very merry band, including Friar Tuck (David Haydon) Ruth Eckett and Vanessa McClenaghan, as Little John and Will Scarlet, and Davina Nicholson (another newcomer) as Alana Dale.
Sian Johnston, as Maid Marion, used her talent to great effect as Maid Marion portraying a lovesick damsel with attitude!
Samson Cuff and Megan Horrell, a couple of the youngest members of the cast, performed their roles as the Babes with admirable confidence. The even younger members of the cast played forest animals and elicited the usual ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from the audience, endearing as little ones always are in their animal costumes, and displaying delight in being part of the pantomime.
The guards, David Cottom and Lucy Horrell, also new to the Somborne Players, supported the main cast along with the villagers played by Rosetta Clark-Smith, Ellie Monger and Lynda Waggott. The supporting members of the cast performed songs and some lively dance routines, choreographed by Carla Horsefield.
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There were some highly entertaining scenes expertly performed. The kitchen scene was good old slapstick comedy involving flour and custard pies. Whilst the schoolroom scene was a masterpiece in visual comedy with Block falling off the end of the bench every time one of the other occupants of the bench stood up.
This review would not be complete without acknowledging the fantastic work carried out by those who do not appear on the stage. David Welton has once again directed the show to a high standard, ably assisted by Jonathan Crump. The sets designed and painted by, Jonathan Rickard with help from Sarah Seymour and other members of the cast, demonstrated their artistic talent whilst the technical expertise of the sound and lighting crew Roger Stephens and Tom Dynes completed the feeling of magic that is part of the pantomime experience. Finally, Linda Aucock kept the cast on track as prompt. So many others contributed to the success of this pantomime backstage and unfortunately too many to mention by name here but you know who you are!
Thank you so much Somborne Players for all your hard work and dedication in delivering a very funny, entertaining, and uplifting performance to the community.
Review by Jane Whittingham
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