Girls produce laugh a minute in Wick panto
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
‘CAN we carry on now?” So one ugly sister asked the other on Saturday night at the final performance of Wick Players’ Cinderella. Kevin Farmer deadpanned the question to director and fellow ugly sister Andrew Craigie after the latter stopped mid-line during the performance to chase a woman, making her way to the toilets, with a plate full of foam.
And carry on they did. The improvised fooling around summed up the festive pantomime – full of fun.
Taking on such a well known panto as Cinderella might have daunted some directors but Craigie, now becoming a veteran of such things, eased into the role. In fact with the help of associate director Donald Farmer, Craigie was able to take on the role large-chested of Minnie Mum.
Minnie and Maxie Mum (played excellently by Kevin Farmer) stole the show from the moment that “Here Come the Girls” blasted through the hall. Their appearances were over the top and full on yet managed to avoid overshadowing the rest of the production. The pair worked perfectly together, bringing comedy to the stage in their search for their own Prince Charming.
Taking up the lead role in her first big production was young local girl Caitlyn Forbes, who has been touted by Players stalwart Eric Farquhar as “one to watch” for the future.
During the performance Forbes proved herself deserving of such a role and of such praise.
Despite her small physical stature she ably filled her character’s glass slippers with a big voice that carried well in the hall.
The audience was gradually introduced to each of the supporting characters, including an animated and kid-friendly Buttons (played with charm by Grant Mackenzie), and a suitably dainty fairy godmother, Marianne Hughes, who brought a light touch to her role.
Taking up the two male lead roles of Dandini and Prince Charming were Stephanie Harper and Avril Bremner respectively. Both put in well-polished performances.
Adding to the solid cast were local favourites Derek Douglas and Jenny Szyfelbain as the Baron Mum and Baroness. Douglas put in a good turn as the clueless but doting father of Cinderella. Szyfelbain worked as the ying to Douglas’s yang as the fierce and controlling mother of the ugly sisters.
If any criticism was to come of the two veteran actors it would be they were not given enough time on stage to develop their routine further, but time was tight.
The sets were superb, as were costumes and make-up which were of a very high standard. All the hard work was supplemented by a chorus and some young dancers who filled the sides of the stage and helped make the pantomime into a full-scale show.
The length of the performance is probably the only thing that could be fairly criticised. At around three hours, including a short interval, the audience did not leave the hall until just before 11pm. For a pantomime primarily aimed at youngsters this felt just a little too long. However, so many of the children (and adults) were having such a good time that everyone seemed more than happy as the curtain came down on yet another successful Wick Players’ Christmas production.
Although he played an ugly sister on stage, Cinderella director Andrew Craigie said everything went beautifully elsewhere. “We had five successful nights,” said the 53-year-old. “The feedback I’ve had from the public has been great and I’m delighted at how well the cast responded to the challenge.”
Craigie has been a member of the Wick Players for several years and helped win the final of the Scottish Community Drama Association festival of one-act plays in 1998 for the group.
He said that it is a case of practice makes perfect for the pantomime.
“There were some old hands and some new hands and we all came through,” he said. “We’ve been rehearsing since August and all the cast, not just the principals, pulled together. There was some great teamwork.”
Craigie added that he appreciates all the hard work the many people involved have put in over the months. “The public see people out the front but there is an awful lot of work done behind the scenes, from the technical staff to the costume makers – all unsung heroes so to speak,” he said. “And without the support of the public there would be no show at all.”
CAST AND CREW
Prince Charming: Avril Bremner
Dandini: Stephanie Harper
Baron Mum: Derek Douglas
Baroness: Jenny Szyfelbain
Buttons: Grant Mackenzie
Fairy Godmother: Marianne Hughes
Minnie Mum: Andrew Craigie
Maxie Mum: Kevin Farmer
Major Domo: Raymond Cooper
Town crier: Jamie Bacon
Chorus: Chloe Robertson, Maura Szyfelbain, Fiona Miller, Carys Miller, Leanne Colquhoun, Kaitlyn Bogle, Kiya Sutherland, Gillian Campbell, Caitlyn Sutherland, Katie Dunnett, Frances Minnock, Eve Lamont, Siony Swanson, Chloe Bunch and Anna McBride
Dancers: Carly Sinclair, Emma Rollo, Paige Rosie, Kevagh Bremner, Kaitlin Gunn and Ashlyn Sinclair
Director: Andrew Craigie
Associate director: Donald Harper
Choreographer: Jill Smith
Musical director: Camilla Elder
