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DICK Turpin may not be a standard subject for pantomime. But then Faringdon Dramatic Society always enjoy a
challenge, and they rose to it in splendid fashion.
This was another of Peter Webster's home-grown scripts. But what made it an even bigger achievement was coping with the restrictions of the new venue, the Com Exchange.
Having to make entrances and exits through the same constricted access could easily have led to problems, but in fact the pace rarely flagged. And thanks to some borrowed extra staging and hired lighting, the seams hardly showed.
Full marks are due to the many youngsters who contributed splendidly to this production: James Barter, Kathryn Whiffen, Ben Lane, Joshua Smith, Sophie Ablitt, Naomi Bullock, Louise Booker, Simon Anderson, Gabriel Vogt, Ernily
Payn, Stephen Hughes, Crispin Ironmonger, Poppy Lane, Jessica Lee, Hannah Logan, Mario Simmons, and dancers Kelly Gardiner, Claire Gibbard, Emma Gilligan, Kirsty Hatton, Rebecca Lock, and Emma Stallard. It is refreshing to know that there is so much enthusiasm and talent waiting in the wings to back up to old hands.
But there is no getting away from it - experience counts hugely in pantomime. And I don't think anyone in the
audience was in any doubt that the star of the show was Kate Peer. Who needs a male dressed up as a dame, when you can have such a genuine article? Everything, from her exquisite facial expressions and gestures to her outlandish costume was delightful. And she was superbly backed up by another tried-and-tested star of Faringdon stage, Dave Headey, as her hen-pecked husband.
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Another outstanding facet of this particular show was the high standard of singing - not always the strongest element in any amateur production. The last chorus was
particularly pleasing. But as far as individuals go, both Ieuan Thomas - using
his splendid vocal delivery to good effect, too, in his speaking part as the villain of the piece - and the leading lady, young Christina Willet, gave us some
splendid solos.
Carolyn Taylor and Carole Tappenden enjoyed themselves as the knockabout pair Cuff and Bookem, while Jo Webster and Joan Lee coordinated smartly and
amusingly inside the costume of Black Bess.
Dick Turpin him-self was confidently played by Kate Lord, who has been one of the most consistent of the relative newcomers to the Society.
Geoff Tibbles and Roger Leitch added their two-penn'orth to the cast of comic characters, while the romantic lead went to another newcomer, Robert Wentworth, who shows much promise for future shows.
The pantomime was produced by Roger Leitch and directed by the writer, Peter Webster.
Musical Director was Debra Warner.
A word of apology. We seem to have spread some ugly rumours with our front page photo from the pantomime in last month's issue of the Folly. We had only seen a part of the dress rehearsal at that time - and not enough to know that Robert Wentworth's character of Jack, Dick Turpin's servant, though acting most tenderly towards Jenny (played by Christina Willett) was not actually her
beloved. It was Turpin himself to whom she was betrothed. We gather the error caused
considerable backstage amusement.
I.S
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