Across the pond

To the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis where the pantomime season had been extended into late February for all the vistors in half-term week who had not had enough of it at Christmas. It was Hickory Dickory Dock which I remember as a nursery rhyme rather than a panto. I was tempted to go further afield to Beer to see Snow White and Seven Dwarfs. But the local resident I consulted when I was there on Thursday advised against. She said there’s was a rather amateur company and they did things much more professionally in Lyme.

In fact the Lyme production was determinedly amateur. It was put on by the Lyme Regis Pantomime society, which for twenty-three years has been keeping the spirit of the traditional panto alive. The Society has three Honary Vice Presidents and 34 Vice Presidents and, judging by their surnames, several of the cast came from their families. Most of the adult members of the cast seemed to belong to my generation, contrasting with the high spirited fast moving young girls, who doubled as villagers, toy soldiers, servants, mice, fairies, pixies and water spirits.

We went to the matinee, which is perhaps why one of the local jokes fell flat. The Wizard of Bong said ‘Hugh Fearnly Witthenstall’ and waited for the laughs, which doubtless he had been getting at evenings throughout the week. There was not even a titter. The kids had probably never heard of the most famous cook in these parts. Or perhaps they had heard of him and disapproved of his campaign against the nearest Tesco, which kids love to roam around,, pulling all manner of things from the shelves. Whereas they have to be dragged into the River Shop in Axminster by their parents, who realise that the Whittenstall yoguart is far superior to the standard supermarket offerings.

The lang first half dragged somewhat, revealing the efforts of the script writer to make this rather thin story fill the alloted time. The shorter second half was done with greater gusto. The star was the diminutive lead Pixie, probably about twelve, who oozed charisma, danced expertly and made you think for a moment that you were watching Oklahoma. If she is so inclined she has the talent to hit Broadway in her adult life.

The encore was ‘Young at heart’ was sung with great energy by all the cast. For the first time, the Principal Boy and the Principal Girl stopped trying to act and behaved spontaneously. They actually smiled.

When the performance ended the cast rushed around to the entrance to hand out sweeties to the children. As I went out I passed the Wizard of Bong, who will not see fifty again. He looked me in the eye and said, ‘You look too old for a sweetie. Ha. Ha. Ha.’ Yes, I replied, ‘but I’m Young at Heart.’ He laughed but he still did not offer me a sweetie.

No problem. Little Dulcie gave me one of hers when we got outside.