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review

The Dragon of Wantley – Chameleon Theatre Company – Review

May 6, 2022 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Image Credit:   Many thanks to The Chameleons for kind permission to use their pictures here. Photos of the programme taken by me, Allison Symes.

It was a pleasure to be back at Ritchie Hall in Hursley Road to watch The Chameleon Theatre Group perform their postponed pantomime, The Dragon of Wantley. This was originally due to be staged in January.

Janet and I had a wonderful evening which was full of laughs. Comedy can be a real tonic at times (as can farcical comedy which pantomime excels at) and I must admit I walked home, feeling cheered and uplifted for watching a fabulous show. After the last couple of years, a good laugh was exactly what was needed.

[Read more…] about The Dragon of Wantley – Chameleon Theatre Company – Review

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Tags: Chameleon Theatre productions, local theatre, pantomime, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall, The Chameleons, The Dragon of Wantley

A Walk on a Beautiful Sunny Day – Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

March 20, 2022 By Janet Williams 2 Comments

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

Have you been to Sir Harold Hillier Gardens recently? We went for an afternoon walk this afternoon with Chippy and his wife Annie. They also did a 10k run in Eastleigh this morning. Wondering how many steps they have done today?

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

We have captured some photos to share with our readers today. [Read more…] about A Walk on a Beautiful Sunny Day – Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

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Tags: days out, gardens, Hampshire, history, nature, recommendations, review, Romsey, signs of spring, spring, travel, walking

Spring is here, spring is here. Life is skittles and life is Beer

March 20, 2022 By chippy minton 4 Comments

HilliersGardens9

The spring is sprung, the grass is riz

I wonder where the birdy is

The bird is on the wing

Don’t be absurd

Everyone knows the wing is on the bird

We’ve been in meteorological spring since the beginning of the month and today, 20th March, is pretty close to non-meteorological spring (which probably has a better name).  And the weekend’s weather has also been spring-like too, for the first time this year.

What better time to visit Hillier Gardens at Ampfield and see the flowers starting to emerge from their winter’s sleep.

Here are a few photos from today’s wander.  I’m not a botanist so some of my descriptions may be a little haphazard.  Sorry, Wellie. [Read more…] about Spring is here, spring is here. Life is skittles and life is Beer

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Tags: days out, gardens, Hampshire, history, nature, recommendations, review, Romsey, signs of spring, spring, travel, walking

Review: Chandler’s Ford MDG Players: ‘Welcome to our village, please invade carefully’

December 2, 2019 By Ben Williams 3 Comments

MDG Players next production is *‘Welcome to our village, please invade carefully’* by Eddie Robson on Thursday 28^th – Saturday 30^th November in the Dovetail Centre Café at 7.30pm.

This year’s performance by the MDG Players is a pastiche of sci-fi storytelling that lampoons radio plays and the stories of Stephen King and John Wyndham. Presented as a radio play, Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully is filled with clever humour and wit that results in a very original, fun way to spend an evening.

Mike Standing (A Minion), Lester Parry (Gryvook), and Mike Slatcher (Uljabaan)
Mike Standing (A Minion), Lester Parry (Gryvook), and Mike Slatcher (Uljabaan)

The plot is simple – the village of Cresdon Green, Buckinghamshire, is a normal English town that has just happened to be slowly invaded by aliens. It starts with a dome being placed over the village and then Uljabaan, an alien trying desperately hard to impress his superiors, attempting to blend in with the villagers. Whilst some embrace the aliens, others, led by the rebellious Katrina Lyons, want to see the aliens gone. Hilarity ensues. [Read more…] about Review: Chandler’s Ford MDG Players: ‘Welcome to our village, please invade carefully’

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Tags: acting, arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, community, Dovetail Centre, drama, entertainment, event, fiction, humour, local interest, MDG Players, Methodist Church, review, social, theatre, Winchester Road

The Chameleon Theatre Group: My Husband’s Nuts – Review

November 1, 2019 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Chameleons - My Husband's Nuts - Review

Image Credit: A big thank you as ever to Stuart Wineberg and The Chameleons for the images.

The play’s title indicated there would be play on words (in every sense) running through the latest production from The Chameleon Theatre Group. With a title like this, it can hardly be avoided! Still it does tie in with my post last week on Meanings!

Feature Image - Chameleons - My Husband's Nuts - Review
Feature Image – Chameleons – My Husband’s Nuts – Review. Image taken by Allison Symes

[Read more…] about The Chameleon Theatre Group: My Husband’s Nuts – Review

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Tags: drama, farce, humour, My Husband's Nuts, plays, review, Ritchie Hall, The Chameleon Theatre Group

Review: They Came from Mars and Landed Outside the Farndale Avenue Church Hall in Time for the Townswomen’s Coffee Morning

July 28, 2019 By Ben Williams Leave a Comment

Last Thursday I watched the latest Chameleons Theatre production – They Came From Mars and Landed Outside the Farndale Avenue Church Hall in Time for the Townswomen’s Guild’s coffee Morning – yes that is the title. A double parody of both amateur dramatics and sci-fi, the play is hilarious in how layered the comedy was, with multiple levels of humour. This performance also came ploughman’s dinner beforehand, which I thought was a nice touch and made the fourth wall breaks more immersive and “in tune” with the style of the play.

The nature of the play also meant a fake programme was created with lots of funny notes such as “Tickets cost £1 each- a strip of 5 is a bargain at £6” and the fact that Mrs Reece is the only member of the behind the scenes crew. The basic plot has the fictional Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society putting together a really, really, really dreadful version of They Came From Mars. Hilarity ensues. [Read more…] about Review: They Came from Mars and Landed Outside the Farndale Avenue Church Hall in Time for the Townswomen’s Coffee Morning

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Tags: acting, Chameleon Theatre, Chandler’s Ford community, comedy, drama, Hursley Road, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall

Fryern Funtasia 6th May 2019 in Chandler’s Ford

May 7, 2019 By Janet Williams 2 Comments

Once again I spent the May Bank Holiday at Fryern Funtasia yesterday – as I did every single year in the past few years.

I really love the traditional open-space event, where I met up with a few old friends there, and soaked up some local news (or gossips) from just walking about. [Read more…] about Fryern Funtasia 6th May 2019 in Chandler’s Ford

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Tags: Chandler's Ford Parish Council, Chandler’s Ford community, charity, community, days out, Eastleigh Borough Council, event, Fryern Funtasia, Fryern Recreation Ground, fundraising, local interest, Methodist Church, review, social

Review by Ben Williams: A Christmas Carol by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players

November 30, 2018 By Ben Williams Leave a Comment

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is one of the most iconic stories of all time. Centered on the miserable and rude Ebenezer Scrooge, the book – oh who am I kidding, everyone knows the story. There have been countless adaptations of the story and everything from The Muppets to Blackadder to Doctor Who have tackled it. [Read more…] about Review by Ben Williams: A Christmas Carol by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players

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Tags: A Christmas Carol, acting, arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, community, Dovetail Centre, drama, entertainment, event, fiction, humour, local interest, MDG Players, Methodist Church, review, social, theatre, Winchester Road

A Christmas Carol – The MDG Players – Review by Allison Symes

November 30, 2018 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

FEATURE IMAGE - A Christmas Carol - The MDG Players - Review by Allison Symes

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is amongst my favourite stories, as I’m sure it is with many of you. It is ultimately a tale of redemption and also a cracking ghost story.

My favourite versions of it (and there have been many produced over the years) are The Muppet Christmas Carol (Michael Caine playing Scrooge) and the version starring Patrick Stewart. It is a question of getting Scrooge’s hardness of heart right without it spilling over into melodrama, something both knights of the realm did fantastically well. [Read more…] about A Christmas Carol – The MDG Players – Review by Allison Symes

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Tags: A Christmas Carol, acting, arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, community, Dovetail Centre, drama, entertainment, event, fiction, humour, local interest, MDG Players, Methodist Church, review, social, theatre, Winchester Road

Review by Hazel Bateman: A Christmas Carol by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players

November 23, 2018 By Hazel Bateman Leave a Comment

I enjoyed a very entertaining evening yesterday when I went to watch A Christmas Carol by the Chandler’s Ford MDG Players. It was held in the Dovetail Centre of the Methodist Church, and this venue facilitated an intimate theatre experience.

The production followed Charles Dickens’ famous story using acting, narration, carol singing and audience participation for the sound effects, which was great fun! The play was brilliantly adapted by James Reynard. [Read more…] about Review by Hazel Bateman: A Christmas Carol by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players

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Tags: A Christmas Carol, acting, arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, community, Dovetail Centre, drama, entertainment, event, fiction, humour, local interest, MDG Players, Methodist Church, review, social, theatre, Winchester Road

The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Ben Williams

November 3, 2018 By Ben Williams Leave a Comment

Since I was very young Blackadder has been my favourite comedy show. The antics of the various members of the Blackadder family throughout history is one of Britain’s best loved comedies and for good reason.

The latest Chameleon Theatre production brought to life the show’s most beloved series – Blackadder Goes Forth, which sees Captain Edmund Blackadder desperate to escape the trenches of World War One. [Read more…] about The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Ben Williams

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Tags: Blackadder Goes Forth, Chameleon Theatre, drama, entertainment, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall, theatre, World War One

The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Allison Symes

November 2, 2018 By Allison Symes 5 Comments

FEATURE IMAGE Blackadder Goes Forth programme-1

IMAGE CREDIT:  A very big thank you to Stuart Wineberg and The Chameleons for kind permission to use the images in this post.

I’m delighted to review the Chameleons’ latest production – Blackadder Goes Forth. [Read more…] about The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Allison Symes

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Tags: Blackadder Goes Forth, Chameleon Theatre, drama, entertainment, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall, theatre, World War One

The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Dominic Mayes

October 31, 2018 By SO53 News 2 Comments

This review is written by Dominic Mayes

Blackadder Goes Forth, performed by Chameleon Theatre Company, went beyond all expectations. It truly brought back a classic comedy set during one of the greatest conflicts in history on the Western Front in 1917. [Read more…] about The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Dominic Mayes

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Tags: Blackadder Goes Forth, Chameleon Theatre, drama, entertainment, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall, theatre, World War One

Review – The Vicar of Dibley by Bishopstoke Players

September 30, 2018 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Review by Diane Allen.

We really enjoyed Vicar of Dibley last Friday, performed by Bishopstoke Players. The production was really good. The cast (and choir) were excellent. In particular the actress playing Alice Tinker (Jennifer Pike) was superb. She had her accent and mannerisms down to a tee. [Read more…] about Review – The Vicar of Dibley by Bishopstoke Players

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Tags: acting, comedy, drama, Eastleigh, review

A Bunch of Amateurs – Review by Allison Symes

August 3, 2018 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credit:  As ever, a very big thank you to Lionel Elliott and The Chameleons for supplying the pictures.

There can’t be many plays which manage to be entertaining and reveal all you need to know about Shakespeare’s King Lear at the same time but A Bunch of Amateurs managed this beautifully.

Ben Williams’ review shows what a great play this is and, if you love a laugh AND Shakespeare, it is the play for you. (It was a film, starring Burt Reynolds, but for a play about a play, the stage is the best place for it).
[Read more…] about A Bunch of Amateurs – Review by Allison Symes

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Tags: acting, Chameleon Theatre, Chandler’s Ford community, comedy, drama, Hursley Road, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall, Shakespeare

Review: A Bunch of Amateurs by Chameleon Theatre Company

July 28, 2018 By Ben Williams Leave a Comment

The latest performance A Bunch of Amateurs by the Chameleons is a hilarious satire on Hollywood egotism and Shakespeare. When Stratford (Suffolk, not on-Avon) runs out of money for the theatre, the Stratford Player’s only choice is a washed up Hollywood actor called Jefferson Steel, who agrees to act in an amateur dramatics production of King Lear – only to find himself in the wrong Stratford- not the luxurious home of Shakespeare, but a nondescript English village. [Read more…] about Review: A Bunch of Amateurs by Chameleon Theatre Company

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Tags: acting, Chameleon Theatre, Chandler’s Ford community, comedy, drama, Hursley Road, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall, Shakespeare

April Trio of Plays – The Chameleons – Review by Allison Symes

May 4, 2018 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

Feature Image - April Trio of Plays

Image Credit: Many thanks to Lionel Elliott and the Chameleons for supplying the images.

It was good to be back at the Richie Memorial Hall to watch the Chameleons’ latest production on Thursday, 26th April. They staged three plays in one show. All were set in different times and backgrounds. [Read more…] about April Trio of Plays – The Chameleons – Review by Allison Symes

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Tags: acting, drama, entertainment, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall, World War One

Review: April Trio of Plays by Chameleon Theatre Company

April 28, 2018 By Ben Williams 1 Comment

Trio of plays 2018 feature

O, What a Lovers’ War by Karen Ince. Directed by Diana Mills.

The first play was focused on the First World War. This is a period of history I’m quite familiar with, as studying history has helped me understand the different sides of the war. I’m studying the downfall of Tsarist Russia in history and it’s linked with involvement in the First World War and I also recalled visiting Australia and reading up on the ANZAC troops involvement in the War. My mum was confused as to why the Union Flag appeared at the end, but the flag in its current form has existed since 1801. [Read more…] about Review: April Trio of Plays by Chameleon Theatre Company

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chameleon Theatre, Chandler’s Ford community, community, entertainment, event, Hursley Road, local interest, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall, theatre

MDG Players and Romsey Players – Five Go Mad for Shakespeare – Review

April 27, 2018 By Allison Symes 5 Comments

Feature Image - MDG Players Review - Shakespeare. Many thanks to the MDG Players for the programme.

I went to the Dovetail Centre on 19th April to see Five Go Mad for Shakespeare. Being fond of the Famous Five stories by Enid Blyton and, much later on, the Bard of Avon, this was a production which had my name on it in a manner of speaking. This is my take on the show following on from Ben Williams’ excellent summary. [Read more…] about MDG Players and Romsey Players – Five Go Mad for Shakespeare – Review

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Tags: acting, arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, community, Dovetail Centre, drama, entertainment, event, humour, local interest, MDG Players, Methodist Church, review, Romsey, Romsey Players, Shakespeare, social, theatre, Winchester Road

Review: Five Go Mad for Shakespeare by Chandler’s Ford MDG and Romsey Players

April 21, 2018 By Ben Williams Leave a Comment

The latest comedy from MDG Players from Chandler’s Ford, and the Romsey Players combines two very British writers – William Shakespeare and Enid Blyton. Shakespeare’s works are updated and refreshed for a modern age and hilarity ensues. Want to know what happens if Theresa May decided to quote Henry V? How about if Romeo and Juliet took place in rival retirement homes? [Read more…] about Review: Five Go Mad for Shakespeare by Chandler’s Ford MDG and Romsey Players

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Tags: acting, arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, community, Dovetail Centre, drama, entertainment, event, humour, local interest, MDG Players, Methodist Church, review, Romsey, Romsey Players, Shakespeare, social, theatre, Winchester Road
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