Westbourne
A rural village in West Sussex
New Parish Hall - Support events
Announcements and news about events organised in support of funds for the New Parish Hall
Mother Goose
In a place not too far away a pantomime was performed. Many individuals from our fair village gave up their time and energy to experience the greasepaint, and tread the showbiz boards for our entertainment. Myself and my two sons aged 13 and 8 were cast to review the premiere performance so, having seen several West End performances, we duly took our seats and waited to be entertained. And entertained we were.
Mother Goose, a story of good vanquishing evil, revolves around a widowed lady, played by Nick Hollands, the term “lady” used very loosely, who has fallen on tough times. Nick, like all good dames, revels in the role, particularly in the musical numbers and amazing costumes. But good fortune is bestowed upon her from the Queen of the Fairies, played with regal grace by Helen Everett, who with the help of good fairy Harmony (Holly Caird) is given the task of ensuring Priscilla th magic goose (Charlotte Leach) lays her golden eggs for the widow.
But as in all great pantomimes, a bad fairy called Discord (Susan Kirkwood-Taylor) hopes to spoil this by bringing out the darker sides of human nature such as greed and vanity. Both Holly and Susan were resplendent in their costumes and their hard work paid off as it’s no mean task to say all your lines in rhyme. Susan as the bad fairy was very convincing, with the Scottish accent an obvious bonus.
In a place not too far away a pantomime was performed. Many individuals from our fair village gave up their time and energy to experience the greasepaint, and tread the showbiz boards for our entertainment. Myself and my two sons aged 13 and 8 were cast to review the premiere performance so, having seen several West End performances, we duly took our seats and waited to be entertained. And entertained we were.
Mother Goose, a story of good vanquishing evil, revolves around a widowed lady, played by Nick Hollands, the term “lady” used very loosely, who has fallen on tough times. Nick, like all good dames, revels in the role, particularly in the musical numbers and amazing costumes. But good fortune is bestowed upon her from the Queen of the Fairies, played with regal grace by Helen Everett, who with the help of good fairy Harmony (Holly Caird) is given the task of ensuring Priscilla th magic goose (Charlotte Leach) lays her golden eggs for the widow.
But as in all great pantomimes, a bad fairy called Discord (Susan Kirkwood-
The love interest, which all good pantomimes have, was Jill Goose (Isabelle Leach) the daughter of Mother Goose, and her sweetheart Colin (Elliot Williams). Ahhh... young love. Both of them sung beautifully and certainly added a bit of class when compared to the comic slapstick of Sage and Onions the bailiffs. This dummy duo of Mike Reed and Ian Lee put a new slant on comic timing and seemed to have got lots of inspiration from children’s favourites the Chuckle Brothers.
Zoe Smith was excellent as Jill’s older, slightly dim, brother. She sang a lovely rendition of “Tomorrow”. The villain of the piece was Clarence Creep the evil squire of the village who wanted to get his hands on Priscilla and her golden eggs. Rod Higham, who played Creep, was superb and seemed a little too at ease in the role at times.
All the children who played villagers and schoolchildren were fantastic. They had all worked really hard to learn their lines and dance routines. Like all the cast, their costumes were beautiful. Well done to wardrobe.
The musical numbers incorporated into the show were both brilliantly performed and modern. The cast performing “Money Money Money” was excellent and “It’s Raining Men” was a routine which will now always be etched on our minds, as Westbourne’s finest males on parade tried to tempt the temporarily beautiful vixen Mother Goose. Again, the term beautiful is used very loosely indeed.
Mother Goose, like all pantomimes, ended happily – a happy cast and crew who had all worked so hard and a happy audience who were brilliantly entertained.
Tina, Adam and Luke Millard
Zoe Smith was excellent as Jill’s older, slightly dim, brother. She sang a lovely rendition of “Tomorrow”. The villain of the piece was Clarence Creep the evil squire of the village who wanted to get his hands on Priscilla and her golden eggs. Rod Higham, who played Creep, was superb and seemed a little too at ease in the role at times.
All the children who played villagers and schoolchildren were fantastic. They had all worked really hard to learn their lines and dance routines. Like all the cast, their costumes were beautiful. Well done to wardrobe.
The musical numbers incorporated into the show were both brilliantly performed and modern. The cast performing “Money Money Money” was excellent and “It’s Raining Men” was a routine which will now always be etched on our minds, as Westbourne’s finest males on parade tried to tempt the temporarily beautiful vixen Mother Goose. Again, the term beautiful is used very loosely indeed.
Mother Goose, like all pantomimes, ended happily – a happy cast and crew who had all worked so hard and a happy audience who were brilliantly entertained.
Tina, Adam and Luke Millard
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