Chandler's Ford Today

The Chameleon Theatre Group

The Joys of Fairytales

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Image Credits:   Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos with some images directly from Pixabay. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

A little later this month, I’m off to see The Chameleon Theatre Group’s pantomime, Cinderella. Oh yes I am! I’m looking forward to it as their pantomimes are always great fun and this one is based on my favourite fairytale. A review will follow in due course (but if you haven’t seen any of their pantomimes, do check this one out. There is still time to book). See their website for more – https://www.chameleontheatre.co.uk/

But the thought of this inspired this article. I’ve loved fairytales for as long as I can remember.

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The Chameleon Theatre Group – Bleak Expectations – Review

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Image Credits:-
Many thanks to The Chameleons for kind permission to use their fabulous photos, which were taken by Stuart Wineberg. Other images were created in Book Brush using one image from The Chameleons. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.

I was intrigued to discover The Chameleon Theatre Group were staging Bleak Expectations and was only too glad to go to this show. I remember this as a hilarious Radio Four comedy show which I enjoyed listening to many years ago. Both the play and the radio show were written by Mark Evans.

The title comes from Dickens’s Bleak House and Great Expectations, but there were plenty of other gags connected with the great author.

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Review: The Chameleon Theatre Group – Waiting For Gateaux

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Image Credits:-
A huge thank you to The Chameleons as ever for kind permission to use their excellent photos. Screenshots from The Chameleons’ Facebook page and website were taken by me, Allison Symes. Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.
Also a huge thank you to Katrina Lush for kind permission to use her photo of the Slimming World Yes You Can sign placed next to The Chameleons’ Waiting For Gateaux sign at Ritchie Hall recently. Katrina, like me, is a member of the Slimming World group that meets here. This photo went up on the local SW Facebook page and gave us all a huge laugh. I think it is excellent product placement for Slimming World and The Chameleons.

It was a joy to be back at the Ritchie Hall with Janet to see the latest production from The Chameleon Theatre Company. Their latest show, Waiting for Gateaux, intrigued me the moment I heard about it. My first thought was this must be more fun than Waiting for Godot. I was right. I was surprised though to find a story behind the laughs which was often moving. More on that shortly.

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Fairytales and Pantomime

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Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Thought you would want to know, given the topic for this week’s post, that the font used in my Book Brush pictures is actually called Aladin! How apt! (Yes, US spelling here).

By the time this post goes out, Janet and I will have seen the latest production from The Chameleon Theatre Group, their annual pantomime. This time they have staged the classic fairytale, Sleeping Beauty.

I hope to share my review next week but thought I would look at the links between the classic fairytales and pantomime. They do seem like a match made in heaven – or at least a match made for the boards.

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Getting Lines Right

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Image Credit:   Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Writers are often advised, rightly so, to study renowned books with famous opening lines. The idea is to demonstrate an excellent opening line which will hook the reader with an intriguing premise, an interesting character and/or setting, and so the reader will read on to find out what happens.

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Review – The Chameleon Theatre Group – Lilies on the Land

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Image Credit:–
A huge thank you to The Chameleons for supplying the photos though I have used Book Brush to turn one of them into a suitable Feature Image. Also thanks to them for permission to share quotes from the cast of Lilies on the Land.

It was a great pleasure to see The Chameleon Theatre Group’s latest production, Lilies on the Land, on Thursday 27th July 2023. Good to see a contingent from Chandler’s Ford Today – Janet and Ben Williams and Gopi Chandroth. (Do check out Gopi’s excellent review if you haven’t already – see in related posts below).

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Review: Spring Trio – The Chameleon Theatre Group

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Image Credits:-
Images kindly supplied by The Chameleon Theatre Group. Many thanks to them.  Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes. Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Two images from the Chandler’s Ford Today archives.

It was lovely to join Janet at Ritchie Hall to see Spring Trio, the latest production from The Chameleon Theatre Group, on 27th April. (This ran until 29th April). Spring Trio lives up to its name as the audience was presented with three plays, one of which was written by Matthew Meehan from the Chameleons. The plays were a mixture of comedy and drama. There were interesting twists too. All three plays made great use of simple sets and props.

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Review: The Chameleon Theatre Group – Sherlock Holmes and The Mystery at Mallen Hall

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Image Credits:-
Many thanks to the Chameleons for kind permission to use their photos. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos (and in one case my picture of the excellent programme!).

It was with great pleasure I met with Janet Williams at Richie Hall to watch the latest production from The Chameleon Theatre Group. I love Sherlock Holmes tales so this was a win-win. Congratulations must go to the Chameleons for a sell out performance on all three nights from 27th to 29th October 2022.

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WANTED: Wardrobe Mistress/Master – The Chameleon Theatre Group

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Image Credit:  One image via Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Other photos kindly provided by The Chameleon Theatre Group.

Just a quick shout-out to any dressmakers who may be interested in a new hobby.

The Chameleon Theatre Group tell Chandler’s Ford Today they are looking for a new wardrobe mistress/master as their current lady will be stepping down. This would be a great role for a keen, experienced dressmaker. The Chameleons say it can be a very busy role at pantomime time but rewarding.

If this sounds of interest to you, please contact The Chameleons directly. See their website link below and scroll down where you will find an email link. See the screenshot for what you should find on the page.

Many thanks to The Chameleons for sharing the following photos from previous pantomimes as these will give you a good idea of the kinds of costumes you would be working on.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

And good luck!

https://www.chameleontheatre.co.uk/

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Welcome Back, Chameleons

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Image Credit:  A huge thank you to The Chameleons for the pictures. I took the screenshots of the programme and the Chameleon Facebook page. (Do check that out – see the link!).

It was a joy to finally return to Ritchie Hall to watch The Chameleon Theatre Group take to the stage for the first time since the pandemic “broke” in March 2020. It has been a long year without you all.

(Though it was a pleasure to share posts here during lockdown – The Chameleons Say Hello. See the Related Posts section at the end of this for links to these and also for when my last review of a Chameleon production was – ages ago, basically).

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Summer Time, Maybe…

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Image Credits:-

Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Image of me taken at a Swanwick Open Prose Mic Night taken by Penny Blackburn.

Other images taken by me, Allison Symes.

I think the least said about the weather recently, the better. Suffice it to say May felt more like a combination of March and April combined what with the strong winds and sudden showers. (And yes I still have the central heating on as I write this).

On a more positive note, and with more of the restrictions being eased, at least it does look as if there is going to be some sort of summer in terms of being able to get out and about.

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Reviews

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Image Credit:  Images used from The Chameleon Theatre Group were kindly supplied by them for previous CFT reviews.

Reviews. Do you love them or loathe them?

I find them useful. I use them regularly too in checking things out on Amazon, my online food shop delivery service, and so on. I don’t necessarily take them at face value either but if 50% or more of a review of a new product is good, then I am likely to give that product a chance. That goes for everything from a new CD to a new book to a foodstuff new to me. That policy has served me well. I’ve rarely been disappointed.

Feature Image – Reviews. Image created in Book Brush using Pixabay image.

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Part 3 – The Chameleons Say Hello…to their Favourite Performances

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Hello and welcome to another installment from The Chameleon Theatre Group looking at life behind the scenes. This week, they share with us what some of their most memorable productions have been and why.

The Chameleons start with All My Sons, which they presented in October 2016.

Image Credit:  As ever, a big thanks to The Chameleons for the images.

Feature Image: All My Sons
Feature Image: All My Sons

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Part 2 – The Chameleons Say Hello… to the Technical Side

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It is always a great pleasure to welcome The Chameleon Theatre Group back to Chandler’s Ford Today. We are sorry their Spring Quartet production had to be cancelled and we hope it is not long before we see them again on the stage at Ritchie Hall. Janet and I very much look forward to our “CFT works outings” again in the future!

Meanwhile, for a fascinating look behind the scenes at sound, lighting, set design, and props, read on… and as ever many thanks to The Chameleons for the interviews and the photos. (Many thanks also to Janet Williams as there was a useful picture for this post in the CFT archives taken by her).

 

This week’s post looks at the technical aspects of a production. Pixabay image.

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The Chameleons Say Hello – Part 1

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The Chameleon Theatre Group have been posting a series of small interviews. They and I thought it a good idea to compile these in some articles for CFT. Hope you enjoy! These will hopefully be spread out over a few weeks between each one. Many thanks as ever to The Chameleons for the photos.

Oh and don’t forget that when you go to one of their excellent productions and take part in things like the raffle, proceeds go to a nominated charity. So have a great night out and support a good cause at the same time. Now that’s the kind of multitasking I’ve always got time for!

And now over to The Chameleons for Part 1 in what we hope will be an enjoyable series.

Feature Image - The Chameleons Say Hello - Part 1
Feature Image – The Chameleons Say Hello – Part 1. Pixabay image.

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

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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

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Titles

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Janet and I will have seen The Chameleon Theatre Group’s latest production, They Came from Mars and Landed Outside the Farndale Avenue Church Hall in Time for the Townswomen’s Guild’s Coffee Morning, by the time this post goes live. The play is written by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Junior and I look forward to sharing a review next week.

This production easily has the longest title of any play I’ve seen but it is a great illustration of one of the prime purposes of a title for any piece of writing. That is, it should give you some idea of what to expect! No doubts here – this title practically screams out “sci-fi spoof” at you! I love a good spoof so this ticks all the right boxes for me. [Read more…] about Titles

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All the Fun of The Panto: Ali Baba and The Chameleons

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Image Credit:  Stuart Wineberg, Lionel Elliott, and the Chameleons.

If there were ever such a thing as a Chandler’s Ford Today “works outing”, it is when Janet and I go to the latest production by the Chameleon Theatre Group. This time it was to enjoy the classic fairytale, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.
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