Image Credits:-
A huge thank you to all at The Chameleons for kind permission to use their photos. Screenshots (from The Chameleons’ Facebook page showing the sets coming together, their advert for the show, and what they will be staging next) were taken by me, Allison Symes. Some images (from The Chameleons) were set in Book Brush settings created by me. Do check out their website for more pictures. I couldn’t use them all here but they will all make you smile, especially if you were at the performances.
This year is the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of The Chameleons. They will be having a special event later in the year but to kick off 2025 in style, they started their new and special year with what is such a major part of theatre – the pantomime.
The Joys of Pantomime
It’s always a joy to go to the pantomimes staged by The Chameleons at Ritchie Hall. Pantomimes are great fun, colourful, and a wonderful time is had by all who go to them.
I was especially keen to see their version of Cinderella as it is my favourite fairytale. I have plenty of reasons for this but a major one is my first story in print, A Helping Hand, was a retelling of the story from Cinderella’s youngest step-sister’s point of view. Great fun to do. That story appeared in Bridge House Publishing’s Alternative Renditions back in 2009. All of the tales in it had to take a fairytale and rewrite it from the viewpoint of another character, who wasn’t the “star”. So any mention of Cinders does bring a smile to my face!
As a pantomime, Cinderella works on so many levels (including have a three act structure built in) and successfully brings in additional characters to add to the fun including a pantomime horse called Rocket who did not live up to his name yet was supposed to be a racehorse Baron Hardup hoped would resolve his financial difficulties. I salute the actors in that costume (El Whitehead and Izzy Apperley/Jay Tustia). They wouldn’t have felt the cold in that costume!
As well as the Dame (compulsory for all pantomimes though in this case the role of the Dame is effectively played by two people – the Ugly Sisters), Cinderella brings in the character of Buttons as well. Someone who loves Cinders, is her friend, means well, and offsets some of the cruelty of the stepmother and Ugly Sisters (if only by literally being there for Cinders). What’s not to like about that?
Also there has to be some magic in the story. That was provided here by the fairy godmother played by Annette Trenchard. Pretty much all of her speeches were in rhyme. I should imagine lines are difficult to learn as it is. To have to learn them as rhymes even more so, I would have thought. I liked the use of coloured scarves as part of a dance to indicate the magic was working as the fairy godmother transformed the rats and lizards into coachmen and got Cinderella’s coach ready thanks to the pumpkin which was conveniently to hand.
As ever, the performances by The Chameleons were wonderful. There was a lively selection of music, fantastic gags, and were the Ugly Sisters overdressed and wearing enough make up to sink the proverbial battleship and between them a fleet? Of course! Nothing less would do either. The sets were colourful and added so much to the sense of being in a magical world. The Chameleons make their own sets and I have no idea how long it took them but it paid off.
You know what to expect from a pantomime – a good story, lots of laughs, and a happy ending. Pantomime is also fabulous for keeping the fairytales in the public eye. They’re also wonderfully politically incorrect. Always have been and always should be. The range of gags means there are loads the youngsters will get. The ones they don’t go over their heads and the adults get those. There really is something for everyone in shows like this.
Cinderella is an old story and many cultures have their own versions of it. (See the Wikipedia link for a useful starting point for finding out more about this aspect.
The Music
The Chameleons also have some wonderful singers in their company. Both the adult and junior choruses sung so well. I loved the use of I’m A Believer for just ahead of Prince Charming’s wedding to Cinderella. This was also a lovely nod to Shrek where the character of Donkey plays this as Shrek and Fiona make new lives together. Everyone joined in with that.
Imagination from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (based on Roald Dahl’s novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) was also used when Buttons was trying to cheer Cinders up.
And then there were Beryl and Cheryl, the Ugly Sisters par excellence, who sang Sisters, which I recall The Andrew Sisters sang (my late parents had the record if my memory serves me correctly).
But what made me laugh out loud the most here was the use of Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I hadn’t anticipated a link between that and Cinderella, well you just wouldn’t, would you, but the writer of this pantomime, Ben Crocker, made it work.
With most of the songs the audience joined in with gusto, which is all part of the joy of pantomime.
Adlibs, Setting, and Gags Galore
Another joy is spotting the adlibs!
The props and set were very good and I am still amazed by what The Chameleons can do on what is a small stage, both in terms of acting and in set creation.
There were far too many gags to share here though that in itself is a sign of a great pantomime but what I can say is the audience spent most of the night laughing. When we weren’t doing that, we were joining in with the songs. Pantomime is very much a two way thing and is about the only time I can think of when the audience is positively encouraged to join in. For a great pantomime, like this one, the audience doesn’t need asking twice either.
I thought a night at the pantomime at Ritchie Hall was a fabulous way to bring January to a close.
Cast List
Fairy Godmother – Annette Trenchard
Dandini – Gillian Wilkins
Prince Charming – Lisa Dunbar
Buttons – Angharad Warren
Baron Hardup – Mike Morris
Rocket Front – El Whitehead
Rocket Back – Izzy Apperley/Jay Tustia
Lady Devilia Hardup – Sue Dashper
Cinderella – Lucie Stranack
Snitch – Yvonne Stroud
Snatch – Terry James
Cheryl – Dave Wilkins
Beryl – Georgette Ellison
I’m told Annette and Gillian had to step into their roles as Fairy Godmother and Dandini with only three weeks notice. That’s not a lot of rehearsal time. Well done to them and all in the Chameleons for excellent performances.
Adult Chorus – Karol Cooper, Kathrina Gwynne, Sian Hayden, Lesley James, Isla Kirby, Glen Partridge, El Whitehead
Junior Chorus – Olivia Denham, Kadi Dyer, Isla Fitzgerald, Thea Witcher
Director – Gillian Wilkins
Production Assistant – Marilyn Dunbar
For The Company
Sound – Wayne Bradshaw
Lighting – Daisy Wilkins
Back Stage Manager – Andrew Lockley-Boyd
Crew – Roger Hester, Milo Lockley-Boyd and Stuart Wineberg
Wardrobe – Merle Dodsworth, Diana Mills, and Glen Partridge
Properties – Karol Cooper
Front of House Manager – Geoff Dodsworth
Bar Manager – Roger Hester
Set Design – Terry James and The Company
Next Play by The Chameleons
The Chameleons will be performing Sudden Death at Thornbury Manor for their next show in April. This is a radio play adapted for the stage but I’m told the audience will be able to interrogate the cast to find the murderer. This sounds fun! If you love your murder mysteries, it would pay to book this one early. Do keep an eye out on The Chameleons’ website for when tickets will be available (and if you sign up to their newsletter, you will get details from that too. Indeed you will get to hear about their shows first this way. Link for website (and from that to the newsletter) given below.
To Watch For
As mentioned, there will be a special event on Saturday 7th June to celebrate The Chameleons’ sixtieth anniversary. More details will be put out about this on their Facebook page.
They will also put out further information via their newsletter which you can sign up to via their website.
Conclusion
Pantomime is a major staple for all theatres and you can see why. It appeals to all ages. It is fun. It draws in the crowds. Pantomime cheers you up too. So well done to The Chameleons for another wonderful production.
I like a good murder story so am looking forward to Sudden Death at Thornbury Manor and it will be intriguing to find out what the special event in June is going to be.
Hope to see you at a future Chameleons show.
Related Posts:-
Read interviews with Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes: Part 1 and Part 2.
Read blog posts by Allison Symes published on Chandler’s Ford Today.
Never miss out on another blog post. Subscribe here:
Leave a Reply