Valiant effort by Jack and co at Watlington

Christmas was a distant memory, and 2008 was already in full swing when I found myself back at Watlington Village Hall for the opening night of the Watlington Players’ 2008 pantomime, Jack and the Giant Beanstalk. Before I say anything else there is something I must get off my chest – and that is simply that it wasn’t as good as last year.
  I know that each production should be judged independently, but the 2007 offering was a large production with an experienced cast and this year it was a quietly understated affair with a younger, less experienced cast. Having got that out of the way, the show was actually not too bad.  The script was disappointing as pantomime scripts can be, but the cast made the best of what they had to work with.
  There was a good showing from a young and enthusiastic chorus, including dancing girls Rachael Grove, Katherine Jones, Susie Mack together with some nice cameos from Pippa Lacey as Cook and William Johnson as Slippery Sid. I very much enjoyed James Golder as Froggy (even if he did score a goal for France) and Kristen Coucill as Serena Bean.  Megan Abbott was sweet as Jill and Mike Cooke was all boo and hiss as the Squire. Compliments to Carla Newton and Laura Norman as Clara the Cow (not sure who was at which end!) and to Rachel Johnson and David Mycock, who excelled as comic leads Tom and Dick. The Dame’s role in all of this was pivotal and Allan Lord was solid as Ma Spratt.
Young Jo Manning did a good job as Jack Spratt with a nice singing voice, but top honours go to Kate Ayres as brother Jim.  Although she was not comfortable with the pantomime style, she worked hard to deliver some of the weakest gags I have heard in a while and won over the disappointingly small audience. There was the usual high-quality accompaniment from musical director Kate Mould and her crew and the scenery and stage management were both excellent.
Director Matthew Kerslake produced a very different show to last year, but not a bad effort all said and done. I have a feeling audience numbers will improve and confidence will grow as the run continues and I left Watlington (as I always do) with a warm feeling gained from the usual warmest of welcomes together with my own outstanding delivery of Chick Chick Chick Chick Chicken, Lay a Little Egg For Me on stage with the children, for which I really can’t thank David Mycock enough.

        Stephen Hayter.
        
        11th January 2008