What a fantastical show it was once again at the Village hall in January; so thoroughly enjoyed by over thee hundred people, and equally, I should think, by the greatly talented-cast of all ages.
The whole show got off to a
fabulous start with an explosive song and dance routine by ‘Abba’…better known
to us as ‘The Dancing Queens!’ [Amanda, Sue A, Cate, Annie, Sue S and Victoria]
Our
very own ‘diamond in the crown’ followed with an enchanting song whose words
were written, music composed and played by herself. Who else, but the lovely,
multi-talented teenager, Jess [ of Goalie, Biker and Choir fame]
Next
came a really funny, cleverly performed sketch called ‘In The Park’. The same
dramatically- gifted, group Richard, Gill, Johnny and Sue S, also gave us a subtly
crafted, sketch called ‘The Dress Shop’, an excellent farcical comedy.
We
were then treated to a hilarious turn, rendered superbly by Brenda and John.
This was a brilliant portrayal of ‘An Italian Maid’ where the highlight was the
audience being vociferously engaged to sing, ‘Antonio’
which
brought the house down.
John,
and his wonderful musicality, was of course ‘generalissimo’ of the Show Band,
incredibly supported by Ed, Claire, and Johnny in providing all the music and
much of the ‘cowboy vocals’ throughout the show.
Our
wise-cracking compare Brian, kept us all amused [ and needing more wine]with
his many corny cliches and teasing jokes.
Country
Roads’ came next, rendered by our amazing children who took hold of the play,
written and directed specially for them by the imaginative role model Sally;
with the ever faithful and skilful Anthea and Laura who helped to produce this
bonanza of Cowboy-girl comedy. What splendid song and dance routines and acting;
from Cowboy Joey with his frolicking family and friends in the Mid-West to the
Preacher- Man [Robert] who gave a riveting confident display of ‘ole time
religion’ to hold the plot together. And how very intriguingly Catriona
portrayed the silent sad little Gnome sat a-fishing.
The
great Panto’ part of the show was especially written for Cardington by a quite
famous playwright, Kenny Emson, who has recently been awarded a prize in New
York. What a brilliant idea to
transpose an old English fable into a Mid-West Hillbillie farce. Strangely this
whole dramatic genre, with its lively 70’s popular songs and rustic old-time
hilarity revealed an uncanny umbilical connection between our talented
performers and the comical Hillbillies [ some of whom would share a common
ancestry from many years ago] revived so cleverly in that same theatrical Shropshire spirit and flight
of fancy for our entertainment now. How very superbly and meticulously it was
directed by Sue, who was helped
invaluably by co-producer Laura and a host of stage-hands, prompters
refreshmenteers etc, and not least our resident artist Tony for his creative
back-cloth.
All those costumes so, exciting and colourful,
were the miraculous achievement of Gill and Julie’s very hard work.
‘Had-Been’
Queen Wendy kick-started the Panto with her dramatic, untimely and unseemly
death; her dying sighs lingered on.. and on!
The[disguised]
old codger- cowboy was our mandolin- strumming lascivious hobo- Narrator, who
did his unlevel best not to hold the show together. I think it was Johnny, and
he certainly could not control those crazy frolicking Hillbillie Dwarfs in
their grief and adoration of the gorgeous Snow White. I’m sure that there
narrator was from the banks of the Mississippi, and not Glasgow!
There
was a magic moment when Snow White was pleading with the audience about the
dreaded apple; we begging her not to eat it; she turned with defiant coquetry
shrieking: “AAR SURELEE WILL”!!
Our
amorous Forest Hunter [Sue A] whose love for Snowy was undying, and her ‘kiss
of life and charm soon overcame the sweet Forest Animals nausea [ and ours!] at
the ‘heart-rendering sad destiny of the poor Goat [James] Another lingering
death.
Wicked,
Wonderful, Step-Mum , Brenda, looked in the mirror not wanting to see her
vanity, envy and bitterness; and the mirror was not impressed, nor were we[supposed]
to be!
Lovely
Snowy looked and saw her intrinsic beauty, but paid a price for it.
‘We’
looked into the mirror and saw and heard those glitteringly delectable images. We merged with their passionate rejoicing
over Snowy’s resurrection and the overcoming of such wicked malevolence. What a joyous shiny, lightness of being
these mirror images projected for us: congratulations to Cate, Laura and
Amanda; and thankyou! Thankyou all!
Tim
Toft