The Panto that Goes Wrong

by Sue Rippon

Thurs 30th Nov to Sat 2nd Dec 2017

Wedmore Village Hall

Cast:
Larry, the DirectorAlan Philps
Romeo, the Principal BoyTom Creswick
Juliet, the Principal GirlMaisie Lewis
Juliet’s NurseDavid Eccles
Tybalt, the VillainDavid Hopkins
Friar LaurenceDorothy Wright
Capulet, Juliet’s fatherDavid Cole
Lady Capulet, Juliet’s motherAndrea Brenner
Mercutio, friend to RomeoRen Fayers
Benvolio, friend to RomeoLibby Tucker
Paris, A County in Verona, suitor to JulietClarissa Dawkins
Margaret, Pendon Players’ Stage ManagerJendy Weekes
Alistair, Pendon Players’ Technical ManagerStephen Farnie
Joe, Pendon Players’ Assistant Technical ManagerHal Farnie
Bridget, Pendon Players’ Most Senior Female MemberValerie Langley
Roger, Pendon Players’ Most Senior Male MemberPeter Langley
Penelope, Pendon Players’ ChairmanAndrea Brenner
Abigail, Pendon Players’ Leading LadyVenetia Hopkins
Bernard Lorne-Messiter, a largely absent Pendon Players MemberDavid Cole
Maureen, the Pendon Village Hall cleanerAlisa Creaser
Balthasar, a messengerMatilda Friend
ApothecaryVenetia Hopkins
Wayne, an auditioner for the Pendon PlayersWayne Hahn
Woman, an auditioner for the Pendon PlayersRen Fayers
Barry, an auditioner for the Pendon PlayersEli Tinney
John Tinney, an auditioner for the Pendon PlayersJohn Tinney
Abe, John’s sonAbe Tinney
Crab, a dogHabibi
Juliet’s balconyMatilda Friend, Hebe Bryan, Honor Farnie, Clarissa Dawkins
Montagues and CapuletsLibby Tucker, Clarissa Dawkins, Matilda Friend, Honor Farnie, Hebe Bryan, Abe Tinney, Eli Tinney
A young citizenMatilda Friend
‘Lear’, a largely somnolent Pendon Players MemberDavid Cole
Creative and Production Team
DirectorSue Rippon
ProducerSarah Ford
Musical DirectorNikki Hewson
Set and Special Effects DesignersGeoff Dickson, Mike Rippon, Philip Hamlin
Lighting DesignerMike Rippon
Sound DesignerPhil Butterworth
Stage ManagerAnne Richards
Lighting and Sound AssistantHal Farnie
ChoreographerValerie Langley
Costume Designer and Wardrobe MistressSue Burton
Costume makersElizabeth Coulter, Valerie Langley, Margaret Farnie, Sue Burton
Hair DesignerCathy Butterworth
Make-up DesignerJudy Phillpotts
Hair and Make up teamJudy Phillpotts, Suzanne Metters, Lesley Luke, Shirley Avis, Margaret Sim, Jenny George, Jane Nisbet, Jean Windridge, Anne Payne, Tanya Mills
Props Designer and ManagerPam Duke
Construction ManagerSteve George
Set constructionSteve George, Martin Horton, Louis Crooks, Mike Murkin, Greg Phillpotts, James Whitmore
Assistant Stage ManagersHelen Richardson, Tori Whitehead, Sarah Slevin, Louis Crooks
Scene paintersBarbara Horton, Chris Fayers, Martin Horton, Pam Duke, Peter Duke, Sarah Ford, Anne Richards
Video DirectorTristan Elliot Palmer
Video CameramanJack Ventures
Video clapper loaderHal Farnie
Box Office ManagerJendy Weekes
PublicitySue Rippon, Mike Rippon
Programme DesignerMike Rippon
Programme advertising salesPeter Duke
Poster DesignersTony Phillips-Smith, Mike Rippon
PromptCaroline Tollworthy
Green Room GrannyHolly Cole
Front of House ManagerSimon Tomes
Front of House teamAnna Knight, Mike Edmunds, Penny Edmunds, Jonathan Frankpitt, Val Godfrey
Bar ManagerJohn Sanderson
Bar teamPeter Duke, Tony Edmunds, Bill Litherland

Director’s Note

When I changed my name by deed-poll many years ago, to Laurence Olivier, I had high hopes for my theatrical career. If things had worked out differently, I could have been Artistic Director of The National Theatre, or of the Royal Shakespeare Company. But it was not to be, and one mustn’t allow oneself to become bitter.

In many ways my time directing with The Pendon Players has proved richly rewarding. I have on occasion plucked livestock from fields, dishcloths from barmaids, and oily rags from mechanics, transforming them into stars of the glittering world of am-dram. Some have even thanked me.

This production has presented particular difficulties, most notably the challenge of transforming the sublimely poetic silk purse of Romeo & Juliet into the soi-disant sow’s ear of a community panto. It has been a Stakhanovite struggle, but I dare to hope that we have pulled it off. Do, please, try to stay until the end. For my sake.

Thank you.

Larry Olivier – Director

Photo Gallery