Arabian Knights - the panto
By Richard Lloyd
Directed by Carol Blake and Ellen David
Performed January 2009
Mama
Mia! Arabian Knights – the Panto came
to Wendover and brought with it several songs from the hit summer film starring Meryl Streep.
Slickly
directed this year's panto was a vision of colour, song and dance with superb sets, scenary and costumes. The audience
was transported to an exotic land of intrigue and adventure travelling from Merrie Olde England (in particular Wendover) to
the land of the Crusades and the palace of evil Saladin.
Tomasina (played superbly by Jennifer Payne
who has a beautiful singing voice) has a crush on King Richard and runs away to join the Crusades in the Holy Land.
On the way she meets Hassan The Bandit (a fantastic, lively and confident performance by Zac Abbott) who offers to help, but
things don't go quite according to plan.
Meanwhile Dame Dollop, Tomasina's aunt (a great
characterisation by David Payne) leaves the Turnip Patches of Wendover and sets out to find her. Being pantomime nothing
goes smoothly of course especially when evil Saladin (a villian brought brilliantly to life by Nick Heritage) and his equally
vile Number One wife Yasmin (Wendie Claridge giving a slinky performance) injet deception and treachery into the plot.
To this mix was added Ibn Dun the eunuch (with
an hilarious interpretation from Derek Yardley); Al Kazeltzah the genie (commanding voice from David Treacher); Ali Kat the
cool assassin (Nick Brunt as a Seventies hippy); a harem of lovely dancing girls and the obligatory camel.
Yet again Ellen David stepped into the breech
taking over the part of Oshgosh, one half of the comic duo, one week prior to the production taking place. It is
a tribute to her incredible skill and commitment that she learnt her lines in such a short space of time to provide some memorable
moments with her talented partner in crime Babu (Joanne Newbon).
Excellent singing from the leads, and well
choreographed routines ensured the audience went home singing tunes from the show.
Outside Edge
By Richard Harris
Directed by Diana Sear
Performed June 2008
Set in a cricket Pavilion, Outside Edge dealt with an eventful Saturday afternoon in the lives of five men
and four women. Roger (Paul Griffiths) struggled to keep together his team to play against the British Railways Maintenance
Division Yeading East, while the wives and girlfriends of his players helped and hindered to devastating and hilarious effects.
The action took place at
the cricket pavilion before and during a match, with the pitch being offstage where the audience was sitting.
While the play was ostensibly
about cricket, it was actually about relationships - and author Harris lifts the lid on all manner of angst and extra-marital
shenanigans amongst the lead characters.
The small cast also included Roger;s wife Miriam (Carol Blake); Bob (Dave Sivers);
Dennis (Gordon Bishop); Maggie (Ellen David); Kevin (Matthew David); Ginnie (Rona Heritage); Alex (David Treacher); and Sharon
(Jo Newbon).
Treasure Island - the panto
By Richard Lloyd
Directed by Carol Blake
Performed January 2008
Directed by Carol Blake the swashbuckling tale told of skullduggery upon the high seas, treasure on a desert island,
a Guatemalan crimson parakeet going by the name of Cap'n Haddock, Dame Ladd's fisherman's pies and ... death by chocolate!
Played to packed houses Stage Manager Taran Hewitt and his
team produced a magnificent set; with fabulous costumes by Sally Stow and Admiral Costumes; and suitably scarey make-up by
Paint By Numbers.
WTS favourite Colin Arney produced a sensational dame, Mrs
Ladd filling the stage with voluminous costumes and whaspish humour. Wendover teacher Daryl Slade was the trecherous
villian Long John Slither, with a bellowing and fearsome voice and an incredibly realistic wooden leg. His beau Pink
Dog, played by Caron Scott, was strong by his side.
David Treacher and Jo Newbon injected hilarity into
the proceedings with their small but essential portrayals of Don Iguana and Donna Estella respectively.
Young Tom Wittwer and Nick Brunt played brutal pirates Israel
Feet and Blind Puke with promise and passion.
And special mention must be made of Ellen David who played
the wild and crazy Bertha Gunn with enormous flair. Ellen stood in as a last minute replacement, learning her considerable
amount of lines in just three weeks.
'Allo 'Allo
By David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd
Directed by Maggy Collins
Performed May 2007
The uproarious comedy relates the adventures of Rene, a hapless
café owner in war-torn occupied France. He and wife Edith have stashed a priceless portrait
stolen by the Nazis in a sausage in their cellar, where two British airmen are also hiding until the Resistance can repatriate
them.
A seamless production evoking the spirit of the war years,
with excellent costume, direction and comic timing.
Rene was played by WTS newcomer Paul Griffiths, with Carol
Blake as his wife Edith.
Frankenstein The Panto
By David Swan
Directed by Carol Blake
Performed January 2007
A unique panto that still managed to contain all the familiar panto elements telling the story of orphan Heidi and her
fight agaisnt evil, that eventually saw her friend Frankie turn into a green, but friendly, monster!
Young
Nick Brunt, age 15, did a superb job as Frankie in his first major role for WTS after four years of dedicated membership.
Heidi was played by school teacher Charlie Wilson who displayed a beautiful singing
voice; WTS favourites included Daryl Slade playing greedy innkeeper Herr Pumpernickel, David Treacher as posj Prince Ludwig,
Colin Arney as a truly crackpot Professor and Barry Slade as pantomime dame Miss Nelly.
Wendie Claridge, Jo Newbon, Fiona Collier, Gill Dean and Philippa Brunt were
a gaggle of mischievous schoolgirls; and the villains Count Dracula and his gummy grandmother Granula were played with style
by Matt and Ellen David.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Carole Blake
Performed July 2006
Shakespeare's best known romantic comedy telling three stories of star-crossed lovers, quarelling couples and comedy
characters.
A brilliant production with superb stage setting and costumes. Performances of particular note included Randal
Stokes commanding portrayal of Theseus and Oberon; Jane Stokes effervescent and energetic Puck; and Colin Arney's hilarious
Bottom.
