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ROBIN HOOD Dates Production Dates: Thursday 8, Friday 9 and Saturday 10 February 2001 at 7.30pm. Additional matinee on 10 February at 2.30pm. Ticket Prices: £6 (concessions £4). To book tickets, contact email address below. Publicity Photos
A Word from Our Patron
Pantomime - The Importance Of A few words from our patron, Celia Imrie. "Last month I went to Windsor to see the "King of Comedy", Eric Sykes in "Jack and the Beanstalk". He was playing King Fireball - and he was, igniting the stage whenever he stepped foot on it, treating the audience to the traditional comic's spot in the Second Act, in a magical sequence on the drums and imaginary xylophone. As I looked around the audience, it was fascinating to realise their delight spread throughout the ages from the granddads to the toddlers. A very heart-warming experience and a thoroughly entertaining (in the fullest sense) evening. That is what is so vital and unique about pantomime. It is a shared, engaging and joyful interaction between the performers and their audience. I have always adored the Magdalene Players pantomimes as they know how to capture the essence of a good traditional story told with all the complete good fun and showmanship of a fine cast, spreading enjoyment. Having started my career as a rat in "Dick Whittington" in Colchester Repertory Theatre many seasons ago, I never want the tradition to die. It is a part of our heritage. Congratulations and success to this season. I look forward to it. Best wishes." Cast
Directed by Kim Richmond-Bailey and Katherine Daw Musical Director: Jane Woolley Production Team
Summary The story is based on the good old-fashioned rivalry between robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham. The babes from "Babes In The Wood" also feature but only form part of the plot, so that pantomime has been swallowed by that of "robin Hood". There is of course the Sheriff and his entourage, which includes a poisonous female courtier and a knock-about duo. There is Maid Marion and her crew, the Dame (Clara Clutterbucks) and Simon, not to mention the two babes. There is also robin Hood and his band of merry men of course. Review The Magdalene Players fail to please - oh no they don't! "Following in the footsteps of earlier barn-storming (or perhaps I should say church hall-storming) pantos Ali Baba and the 2,000 Thieves and Cinderella, the Magdalene Players pull it off yet again with this year's offering of robin Hood. With the assistance of Daniel Hewitt, veteran scriptwriter, David Ashton, delivers the goods - variety, music, slapstick, good jokes, corny jokes, jokes for the kids, innuendos for the adults, topical diversions and lots of nonsense - all at a cracking pace, against an imaginative set and with fabulous costumes. What is so likeable about the Magdalene Players is their composition - all ages, stages, shapes and sizes well-represented - all working well together. This is particularly noticeable during the song and dance routines, like 'Reach for the Stars', with children as young as 8 and adults of a certain age all in harmony, all determined to make it work, and during the occasional hiccup when a voice from the wings is called upon to prompt one of the cast - though witty ad libs in these circumstances seem to come naturally too. The villain of this piece is a dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham, played by Gordon Thomson, a good-looking man who nonetheless manages to look truly mean. Such meanness and manliness is bound to drive some undiscerning women wild and, sure enough, he is pursued relentlessly by formidable Miss Hiss, well-played by Kate Sheldon, albeit giving womenfolk a bad name. But this virago's private, or rather not so private, hopes and dreams are doomed. The Sherrif's eyes naturally turn elsewhere, the angelic but spirited Maid Marian (Lucy Gray) being his prey. Setting up an archery match to lure his elusive rival and all-time enemy, robin Hood, from the woods - the Sheriff has decreed that the first prize will be a kiss from Maid Marian - the plot gets underway. But interruptions abound - Captain Hook, played by Luis Pessoa, lager can in his one and only hand and later skewered on his waving hook, sadly adrift having missed the turning to the theatre playing Peter Pan; and the outrageous and outrageously-clad Dame, Clara Clutterbucks (played by David Ashton), The Magdalen Players' answer to Dame Barbara Cartland - and more! Clara runs the local school. No qualms about corporal punishment with her! Throwing political correctness to the winds, she takes obvious delight in spanking boys' bottoms. She also bursts into song at the drop of a cane, though sorely tried when interrupted by Hook and his talkative parrot, both Captain and sidekick becoming progressively more verbose as the lager cans (yes, the parrot has a can too) lighten. robin Hood (Hannah Woolley), though dressed sllightly incongruously, in my view, in a tight mini skirt (though perhaps I just don't understand panto etiquette...), is merry and bright - so likeable and energetic that you understand why folk have taken to the road, or rather the forest, for him. His love duet with Maid Marian is beautifully sung and truly touching. Less touch but absolutely marvellous in its nonsense is the rendition of 'Monster Mash' by two excellent fools (Daniel and Thomas Hewitt) and one Clara Clutterbucks, the latter with an unforgettable fierce but comical expression as she belts out the chorus. So many nice touches and comic moments, though space and time to mention only a few - a deflated town crier (Jane Cooper), normally, so bumptious, in the stocks with Little John (Ian Jewesbury); a thwarted Sherrif of Nottinghamfinding campanology is not his forte; robin's long-suffering merry men, coming perilously close to losing their merriment when faced with Sally's (Maggie Hewitt) cooking. Finally, and fittingly, I mention a small, 8-year old boy, with a sweet face framed by a little brown hood, who was singing and dancing shyly inthe front row - he was strangely mesmerising. Not surprising really - I later discovered he was called Philip, the son of David Ashton, the incomparable Clara Clutterbucks ... Many congratulations to the Directors and Cast of the Magdalene Players!" by Hilary Parker And another review. This one from the St Mary Magdalene Church Parish Magazine "On Friday 9th February, I was invited by friends to join them to see the local pantomime, "robin Hood", in the Church Hall. There was quite a large audience, a good mix of young and old, who joined in ehtusiastically with every bit of audience participation available (and even some that wasn't). The scenery was excellent, very minimalistic but it worked. I was impressed by the 'battlements' at either side of the stage in front of the curtains - very effective, it held everything together. Well done, Mr Thomson! Mr Thomson also played the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. He may have had some excellent "throw away" lines in his script - unfortunately, he thre them away so quietly no one could hear them. Our response to his evil shennanigins may have been more spontaneous had we been able to heat what they were. Louder next time, Sheriff. Other than that an excellent rendering. David Ashton was his usual OTT self as the Dame. It would be difficult, and unfair, to pick anyone of the main characters as the 'best', they were all great. The supporting characters were also extremely good. The chorus/village people threw themselves into the part with great gusto - the singing was excellent and the choreography simple but very well-performed - extremely professional! All in all a thoroughly enjoyable evening, great music, good singing and much enthusiasm. I particularly liked the running 'TV quiz', although Simon's somewhat noisy entrances were a bit weird - but then, I am getting on a bit and out of touch with what's trendy these days. Well done, Players, I look forward to your next production." Email: Ashtons@ukgateway.net Photographs of the Production
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