November 26, 2007
ROBINSON CRUSOE and THE PIRATES by Paul Reakes
The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury, until December 1
Banbury Cross Players are celebrating Christmas already with a gorgeous, garish, and hilarious old-fashioned pantomime that whirled me back to my childhood and made me forget about the serious side of life for two hours last night. The smile is still on my face this morning.
It’s all here: a cast of thirty-five, including the dysfunctional Crusoe family, with Nik Lester’s Dame, Ma Crusoe, holding the night together brilliantly, dozens of pirates, including the excellent, dastardly, comic coupling of Dave Smith and Marilyn Fairbairn, a tribe of cannibals, an underwater scene starring an imposing but benevolent Neptune, a lovesick gorilla (yes, honestly!), and a suitably happy ending, with three concurrent, happy marriages. The large audience, 70% of which were under 16, were encouraged to participate from the start, and we all had a wonderful time, shouting, booing, warning the heroes of danger, singing along, catching the sweets that were regularly thrown at us, and eventually sighing happily when all the lovers were united. Even Ma Crusoe got her man, the gruff, masculine Captain Bowsprit: well, all the nice boys love a sailor, geddit?!
The costumes were magnificent, choreography of the many set-piece sing-alongs was inventive, the script was deliciously contemporary and specific to Banbury, and although the technical crew made some small blunders during a very busy and complex show, our enjoyment was never affected.
Don’t go looking for political correctness, subtle characterisation, or a story with logic. Instead, let Katy Weston’s handsome and brave Robinson befriend you and take you on an exciting, colourful, and action-packed journey that will leave you smiling and celebrating the peculiar and wonderful institution called traditional British pantomime. You’ll love it! Oh, yes you will!
The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury, until December 1
Banbury Cross Players are celebrating Christmas already with a gorgeous, garish, and hilarious old-fashioned pantomime that whirled me back to my childhood and made me forget about the serious side of life for two hours last night. The smile is still on my face this morning.
It’s all here: a cast of thirty-five, including the dysfunctional Crusoe family, with Nik Lester’s Dame, Ma Crusoe, holding the night together brilliantly, dozens of pirates, including the excellent, dastardly, comic coupling of Dave Smith and Marilyn Fairbairn, a tribe of cannibals, an underwater scene starring an imposing but benevolent Neptune, a lovesick gorilla (yes, honestly!), and a suitably happy ending, with three concurrent, happy marriages. The large audience, 70% of which were under 16, were encouraged to participate from the start, and we all had a wonderful time, shouting, booing, warning the heroes of danger, singing along, catching the sweets that were regularly thrown at us, and eventually sighing happily when all the lovers were united. Even Ma Crusoe got her man, the gruff, masculine Captain Bowsprit: well, all the nice boys love a sailor, geddit?!
The costumes were magnificent, choreography of the many set-piece sing-alongs was inventive, the script was deliciously contemporary and specific to Banbury, and although the technical crew made some small blunders during a very busy and complex show, our enjoyment was never affected.
Don’t go looking for political correctness, subtle characterisation, or a story with logic. Instead, let Katy Weston’s handsome and brave Robinson befriend you and take you on an exciting, colourful, and action-packed journey that will leave you smiling and celebrating the peculiar and wonderful institution called traditional British pantomime. You’ll love it! Oh, yes you will!