Show: Puss In Boots
Society: Holy Cross Players
Venue: No venue information available
Credits: Written and Directed by Tony Jordan.
Type: Independent (registered user)
Performance Date: 09/01/2008
Puss In Boots
Paul Johnson | 28 Sep 2011 15:35pm
Holy Cross Players once again produced a brilliant New Year Panto in Puss in Boots at the Glaxo Leisure Club from 10th – 12th January 2008. A truly ‘bootiful’ production from a new script that came from the able pen of Tony Jordan who also enthusiastically played the well heeled, wickedly over the top dandy Count. Oh yes he did!
Saturday night live!with the aid of the Storyteller, played by Marianne Salisbury, the show seamlessly progressed with pace through 13 scenes. From the starring roles to the cameo parts, the chorus line to the solo song, each scene was performed with great gusto. The countless hours of work put into the show by the cast and production team paid off. Holy Cross Players lived up to their motto “In the community, part of the community, for the community” by bringing enjoyment for all.
The irrepressible Tom Smart as Thierry, the resident buffoon, almost brought the house down with laughter during his rescue attempt of the princess from a cell high in the turret of the castle. Clinging perilously onto the window’s iron bars and onto life (you have to use your imagination) he suddenly breaks into uncontrollable hysterical laughter. Somehow he manages to continue his lines in this hyper state, loses his grip, yells and disappears from sight. After a short pause there’s the sound effect of someone falling into deep water from a great height – what a truly memorable panto moment. One of many in the show. The technical crew pulled out all the stops with the special effects. Several members of the audience gasped in astonishment “How did they do that?” as the monstrous ogre Pletrac, brought to life by the superb Andrew Beaven, changed in a flash to a grizzly brown bear. David Copperfield eat your heart out! The show was complete with a panto cow, which sounded a little hoarse and looked remarkably, from the front and back, like the horse in previous pantos. This scene was well milked, much to the amusement of the audience, by the voluptuous Dame played by an ‘on form’ Johnny Robbins. Oh yes he did!
The talents of Lynsey Robbins, Lauren Marsh and Kirsten Waudby-Tolley as Puss, Franck and Princess Reinette combined well in their key roles. In fact all the cast excelled to bring us a memorable panto. And our musical maestro Michael Bannister and his musicians brought us live music through out the show. Ray Allen who by the end of this summer will be returning to his native Lincolnshire, was presented with an ‘Oscar’ to mark his considerable contribution over the years to the Holy Cross Players. Ray in panto will be best remembered for his exuberant dame portrayals. Let’s hope Ray will ‘come out of retirement’. Special mention must be made of our one and only Steve Pound MP. This was no dipping toe in water performance; Steve dived deep into his “Hermit” role with robust rip roaring humour. He’s a good sport. Donning long straggly black wig and false beard, dressed in sack cloth he epitomized a recluse down on his uppers. There was to be no close shave for him as the massive foam pie, as in previous years, struck him full on the face. Undeterred he worked the scene into a lather and whipped-up the audience into frenzied laughter.
- : user
- : 09/01/2008