NODA said:
ALVECHURCH DRAMATIC SOCIETY
THE LOST TREASURE OF NUMBSKULL ISLAND
WRITTEN BY CHRIS DAVIES AND PAUL CHAMBERLAIN
ALVECHURCH VILLAGE HALL
30th NOVEMBER 2018Since becoming the regional representative, I have enjoyed attending performances by Alvechurch Dramatic Society. It is however two years since their last pantomime and this production – The Lost Treasure of Numbskull Island, was the fifth pantomime written by Chris Davies and Paul Chamberlain and I went along expecting several elements.
Were many of my preconceived expectations met? Yes, many were – but all for the good!
When at Alvechurch the experience of the production starts before the curtain goes up. I have come to ‘expect’ the hall to be decorated in the right style and the front of house team to be in costume. I was right in this one and as always, a wonderful welcome as well.
The list of cast members in the programme was long. Some cast members doubled up but with at least 21 people taking part it is difficult to name each in detail.
The show opened with, and then contained throughout several sea shanties – many with clever word changes starting with the famous (at least for people my age) tune to Captain Pugwash. Although the whole cast were involved at times these were primarily carried out well by Boozy, Woozy and Floozy otherwise known as Susan Resuggan, Emma- Louise Hodgson and Jo Bestwick. These shanties were used well to cover set changes.
Clever word play was one of main ingredients of this production. Firstly, Dame Judy Wench (a national treasure), Slack Marrow and Donald Shrimp. Other ingredients included audience participation – arrhhh, corny jokes, local references and innuendo.
On the quayside we meet many of the characters, Mr Checklist a jobsworth played by (Jon Oseland), Mistress Hanky, Panky and Manky all three in search of long-lost husband who went to sea many years ago (wonder if they will turn up as the panto progresses?). Penelope the Fishwife (Steve Siddle) fresh from Monty Python along with Jack the Map Seller (Martyn Read) and Percy the Porter(Matt Bowen).
The other characters are about to set off on their adventure. Anne Bonny played by Leah Yendell, who was our hero and very good in the role, along with Myfanwy Griffiths as Tom and Adam Brown as Dame. Both Myfanwy and Adam played their parts well and with good characterisation. Adam had a very high-pitched voice for the whole evening and played a typically panto dame.
And so to the baddies- Slack Marrow confidently played by Martin Salter with Cutthroat Jake well played by Ges Taylor and the allrounder Chris Davies who was superb as Billy Bones and made the most of each and every one of his gags and Keith Johnson as Pretty Wally.
The under the sea scene was clever with good costumes – Jellyfish (Emily Waller), Handy (Gemma Batty), Starfish (Anna Pearson), Fish Finger (Rosie Pring) and Jon Oseland as a rather familiarly looking Donald Shrimp with Steve Siddle as Neptune and Lesley Piddington as Naptuna.
Finally, we meet three long serving sailors – Mouthwash (Alan Clarke), Dontwash (Matt Bowen) and Hogwash (Martyn Read) I wonder who they may be the long-lost husbands to?
The set was good as always at Alvechurch with good use of the confined space. Entrances through the hall itself were well used and I liked the effective but simple cloth to represent the sinking and the journey below the sea.
Other than one scene which went a bit astray the show flowed well with a cast who seemed to have an enjoyable time bringing panto to Alvechurch.
This was an action packed and fun production. I was assured by Chris the author that it was cut down! He did admit the font size was reduced! Yes, it was long, but the audience loved every minute of it and so did I.
Once again thank you to all at Alvechurch Dramatic Society. I look forward to Blithe Spirit in 2019.