Broxbourne Theatre Company
wins
local NODA pantomime award
for
fourth year running
|
Dick Whittington
Best Panto and Best Overall
Show of 2007 |
Aladdin
Best Panto
of 2008 |
Robin Hood
Best Panto
of 2009 |
Cinderella
Best Panto
of 2010 |
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As a member of
the National Operatic and Dramatic Association, Broxbourne
Theatre Company is part of Area 9 and competes against 22 other
theatre groups in and around Broxbourne, Cuffley, Hertford, Hitchin, Letchworth,
Stevenage, Royston, Welwyn and Ware. Together they present an estimated 30 to 40 shows
each year, including pantomime, drama and musicals.
This year the Area Committee has once again awarded Broxbourne Theatre
Company the top panto prize for its 2010 pantomime Cinderella, making it best NODA pantomime in the North, South,
Central and East Herts area for four years in a row.
Cinderella had a cast of nearly 50 onstage and more
than twenty working behind the scenes.
For 2010/11 Broxbourne Theatre Company chose to present
Disney's Beauty and the Beast. This was a musical not a
pantomime. Consequently Broxbourne Theatre Company is not eligible for the Best
Panto award this year.
BROXBOURNE THEATRE COMPANY
CINDERELLA
JANUARY 2010
Finale from Broxbourne Theatre Company's Cinderella Pantomime
Director: Vicki Avery
Musical Director: Julie Davies
Choreographer: Joy Spriggs
A lively opening
number got the show off to a good start, and the action developed well, through
the introduction of the various characters, but nevertheless there seemed some
reluctance for the audience to get involved in any lively interplay with the
stage, despite encouragement to do so. However, this really did develop well in
Act II.
As usual excellent settings were well handled to give a smooth
progression from one scene to the next. The wardrobe department too did a fine
job with the many costumes, though the thought did occur that Cinderella's
working dress was a shade too good for her lowly station. There is no doubt that
a feature of the Broxbourne pantomimes is the visual quality of the events
portrayed. All of the principals did well both with characterisation and
vocally, with Maxi & Minnie Mumm, looking as gaudily undesirable as might be
expected; Buttons trying to capture a desirable Cinderella, but never quite
making it: Prince Charming making sure he (she) did. It was interesting to see a
Dandini, cast and played, as a minor villain, which is not necessarily the case
in other versions. The chorus, both adult and youngster were an important part
of the production.
There were some excellently featured scenes, the dressmaking
ballet and the ghost scene being particularly effective, as was the ballroom
scene. The crisis of not having the pony as planned, due to the bad weather, to
bring Cinderella's coach on stage was handled well by using white clad ladies to
do the job.
Lighting was to a good standard and effects were well done. Sound
was a bit disappointining in the sense that there were times when the large
chorus in song could barely be heard because of the emphasis on orchestra and
soloists. The question of balancing the sound from effects, orchestra,
individuals and chorus, both from the placement of equipment and the management
of it, is a difficult problem, sometimes not appearing to get the attention it
deserves.
All in all this was a very good night out and from the comments heard
in the foyer as I left, I'm sure that the show was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Congratulations to the company and here's to the next production
Report by
John Warburton,
Regional Councillor |
Cinderella's success followed a similar NODA Best Panto award
for
Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood in 2008/9:
BROXBOURNE THEATRE COMPANY
ROBIN HOOD AND THE BABES IN THE WOOD
JANUARY 2009
The Schoolroom Scene from
Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood.
Director: Maureen Stretch
Musical Director: Julie Davies
Choreographer: Joy Spriggs
There is nothing like a good traditional pantomime and Broxbourne Theatre
Company's Robin Hood restored my faith in tradition. This production had the
benefit of exhibiting a very strong leading line up and it was a joy to be
carried along fully engrossed in the story, cheering and booing whenever I had
to.
Carly (perfect for principal boy) was totally believable as Robin Hood, carried
herself and sang as though she had been made for pantomime and Sarah (Maid
Marian) sang like a professional. Tommy as Nurse Norah was expert at working his
audience and the children loved him. Mark was suitably evil as the Sheriff and
Scott as Herman played his silly Billy role with gusto. The babes were confident
in their performance as were the children in the ballet. The U.V. insects were
delightful. There was not a musical number I did not enjoy but my favorite was
“This is the Moment” at the end of Act 1.
Costumes were bright, colourful and well chosen. The sound was well dispersed
throughout the auditorium and diction was clear. My only cause for concern was
some of the cloths. From where I was sitting in mid stalls they appeared rather
well worn and patched, which did not seem to match this otherwise excellent
performance.
I had a wonderful nostalgic step into the past. Thank you.
Report by Trevor Wright
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Robin Hood's success followed a similar NODA Best Panto award
for Aladdin in 2007/8.
Dick Whittington
in 2006/7 received the Best Panto award and also beat the
area Best Musical and Best Drama to become Best Overall Production of the year.
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BROXBOURNE
THEATRE COMPANY
ALADDIN
JANUARY 2008
Director & Choreographer:
Malcolm Hollow
Musical Director:
Mark Smith
I have long taken the view that an essential ingredient of Panto is a very early
and preferably noisy contact between audience and stage. The solo opening by a
threatenening Abanazar does not seem to cater for this, giving the two hard
working policemen the task of injecting the first comedy onto a cold audience.
It was nearly 15 minutes before Twankey and then Wishy Washy came to the rescue
and took matters in hand to move things forward at a good pace.
Excellent and well handled and
scenery and settings, together with colourfully interesting costumes gave some
very good stage pictures, and the children’s dancing team performed particularly
well. Abanazer started as he finished in a thoroughly nasty fashion, Slave of
the Ring was nicely off-hand, Notsoshy gave an audience friendly Wishy Washy an
interesting time, the Emperor was imperiously (but not actually) in charge,
Aladdin and the Princess successfully did what all Principal boys and girls do,
Twanky was a highly comical and successful dominatrix, the Policemen were
totally unsuccessful in crowd control and as for the Genie, well, who could
resist her commands??!! Vocally, solos came over well, though non-principal
pieces were less audible and sometimes lost under the orchestra. In fact more
projection from those without microphones would have helped.
All in all a very good
evening’s entertainment after a rather slow start.
Report by John Warburton, Regional Councillor
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Dick Whittington
The NODA review
There were a number of quite outstanding things about
this production that served to put the icing on the cake of some very good and
even excellent performances. Those several things included a first class set,
expertly handled to ensure smooth and swift changes. Lighting was also first
rate, including a very effective undersea UV scene, and make-up, particularly of
King Rat and Tommy the Cat was absolutely top rate.
An excellent and energetic Dame who also gave full value
to the pause, a thoroughly nasty King Rat and a cheekily likeable Idle Jack
ensured audience involvement from start to finish.
All of the characterisations were in tune with each
other in a high standard principal line up and the whole production went along
with a good pace, with just the occasional entrance and exit that was rather
flat and momentarily interrupted the flow.
Singing was to a good standard and all the numbers were
put over very well despite some uncertainty in pitch from King Rat and Captain
Sparrow. Chorus work was enthusiastic and well disciplined with plenty of
energy.
The M.D. kept good control, though there where one or
two occasions when the pit, particularly the drummer, got the better of the
stage, both in chorus and in solo work. I suspect this was as much due to
control of the sound balance than anything else.
The final scenes were really excellent, with the
wardrobe department providing a stunning costume display representing many
aspects of London, preceded by a truly wonderful costermonger dance routine by
the Jason Kids.
This was an excellent evening by any standards and many
congratulation to all concerned.
John Warburton,
Regional Councillor
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See
more pictures from
Cinderella,
Robin Hood,
Aladdin
or
Dick
Whittington .
NODA is at www.noda.org.uk
and you can find the full list of Area 9 members
here .
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