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Performed at Holland-on-Sea Public Hall on Saturday 9th December 2023

This was my first visit to Holland-on-Sea and the public hall was a lovely, traditional village hall with a stage. Everyone I met, who was a member of HOSTS went out of their way to be friendly, helpful and kind. From the Chairman (Barry Carder), to the Box Office (Robert Smith, Justine Smith) and Front of House (Joan Bone, Jackie Thornton, Graham Thornton). I honestly could not have asked for a friendlier welcome and your wonderful attitude really made my night – thank you.

This was a traditional pantomime and the cast of 10 worked incredibly hard to encourage the audience of 30 to participate in true pantomime style. The audience, alongside myself enjoyed the corny jokes, innuendo and slapstick, however as the audience was small, the groans, boos and participation were slightly muted; the Front of House team told me during the interval that the two matinees were virtually full, which was terrific to hear. The stage was used well, with characters entering via the wings or coming down the stairs and onto the hall floor via a lit arch. Flats were used for the different scenes and these were painted attractively. Scene changes took place fluently and the sound effects and music worked very well.This pantomime required the dialogue to be delivered at a good pace and several actors had many lines to learn. There were several prompts during the evening, but this did not distract from the flow of the show. The costumes and make up were very good and every actor looked their part.

The casting of all characters was good and the characters in general were enjoying their parts. There was some good acting and reacting taking place and all actors interacted well and used the stage to good effect. The timing and pace was good, as is needed in a pantomime.Patricia Hunter played Fairy Sweetheart and had good interaction with the audience and was a very sweet ‘goody’. Sheila Bolton played the baddie, Fairy Carabosse very well indeed and the audience did not need any prompts to boo her when she was on stage. Joey was played by Samantha Aspinall and she worked really hard to interact with the audience and to deliver all of her ‘lame jokes’ to good effect. David Lye played The Dame, Nursie Nelly Nightshirt. The flamboyant costumes, interaction with the audience and near the mark innuendos were spot on for a pantomime dame. Vicci Heley played Princess Aurora charmingly and impressed the audience with her lovely singing voice. Bernard Leatherdale played King Rupert well and delivered his lines, where he needed to come across as ‘slightly foggy’ very well indeed. Ben Webb played Prince Charming and again, showed he had a tuneful singing voice. He interacted well with Princess Aurora. Jeff Becket played both the ghost and the palace guest in a nice cameo role. Jessica Walker played the assistant fairy and delivered her lines accurately. Paige Smith played a palace guest and interacted with the rest of the actor well.

This was a typical pantomime and the small, but appreciative audience enjoyed all of the tremendous hard work the cast put in to deliver a good script, jokes, songs and lots of opportunities for audience participation.

Well done to everyone concerned!

Neil Jackson , NODA Assistant Representative, District 11

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