After the show

We performed A Christmas Carol play tonight. The cast was almost bigger than the audience, which was good, we didn’t feel intimidated. The scene where me and hubby played the Fezziwiggs was fun. We ad-libbed a bit and actually got a laugh. I guess that’s the advantage of knowing someone well, we could afford to take the mickey out of each other!

I stumbled over some of my lines and missed out one of them altogether! But one thing about doing plays is the cast are the only people who see the script. I realised that as long as you pass on the gist of the drama you can get through it. We got applause at the end, so we must have done OK!

A Christmas Carol

This poster of our performance of a Christmas Carol has just been released. The painting was done by the organiser Glenn James. He’s a very talented artist and performer. If you happen to be around Newcastle under Lyme on these dates you might like to come and see us. The figure on the poster is a portrait of the actor Alistair Simm. He appeared in a film version of the story a long time ago (1950’s or 60’s), it was such a brilliant adaptation. I really love watching it.

A Christmas Carol

The ghost of Christmas present?

We are rehearsing A Christmas Carol and hubby has got the part of Christmas Present. He’s a bit anxious so he will have a scroll to use with the script on to get through it.

It’s a bit strange to be doing this after three years of Covid, especially being among people who have got bad colds! We sort of sat across the room as much as possible to keep out of range of a cough. I’ve managed to avoid Covid since it emerged in 2019, I hope to carry on in safety.

I have a couple of small parts but my problem isn’t learning the lines as much as following the cues from the line before. But only two weeks to go. I’d better practice more!

Virtual panto link!

IT IS FINALLY HERE THE MOMENT YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! OUR VIRTUAL PANTO EXTRAVAGANZA.
We hope you enjoy the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utoP21vuFro
We are proud to be supporting YoungMinds. We are asking, if you are able, for donations of this performance to support their mission. Follow the link below: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/penkhullplayers
PLEASE SHARE A SMILE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Every year since 2009 our little village of Penkhull in the City of Stoke-on-Trent has held a pantomime in the village hall. This year we couldn’t do it, but we’ve tried to keep the fun going by taking part in an online version….. See what you think!

Make up?

More a mask? Made of papier mache for last years penkhull mystery play in July 2019.

My hubby played the master Potter. At the start he was like a shop dummy, wearing a painted mask. Then as two children go back in time to experience life in the 1840’s for poor children, the Potter discards his mask and turns into a real person. We couldn’t do a real potters wheel so I painted a papier mache pot to look like wet clay.

Hubby made a perfect potter. He really enjoyed the play. We were really sad that it didn’t happen this year.

Just a pre lockdown photo.

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In February I was painting scenery and props for our local pantomime, Aladdin.

We were acting in front of about 140 people for four performances. One on Thursday and Friday, and a double performance including a matinee on Saturday. To think just a couple of weeks later we were in lockdown. I saw hundreds of people over those few days, and then no one for three months except on the way to and back from the shops.

I wish I could go back in time? Go back to a time where there was laughter. Fun, silly jokes, time to be with friends. Life was much less worrying then, despite global warming and pollution! I wonder what will happen when things return to normal if they do?

More rehearsals

More rehearsals today for the panto, we ran through the whole thing today, adult and children’s cast acting together. We also got to use the stage which was good. It gives you an idea of where you will be. What side of the stage to come on. Whether you will knock into another cast member as you dance across the stage.

Just hang on, yes I did say “dance”. We have had a choreographer involved this year. People are being carried on shoulders and doing knee spins and…. We’ll it’s exhausting to look at. I’m glad I’m right at the back, I’m not nimble on my feet anymore.

Three weeks to go… Help!

Zombie film fun.

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When you enjoy doing mad things it’s easy to have a laugh. My hubby and I were involved as extras in a zombie / comedy / romance / musical film last year and we went to the Wrap party a couple of weeks ago. This was how I went. In one of my masks for sleep aponea and lots of make up using Face paints (hint, don’t use red face paint as eye liner, it made me look really ill the following day and was hard to clean off). I had to wear my glasses to see! I stuck the pipe into my handbag and pretended to breathe through it.

I’m hoping the film called “Humanus” gets released. The actors in it, who have learning difficulties and physical disabilities, were brilliant. They deserve to succeed.

After the panto

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This is me in panto costume and makeup. I have not published photos of other cast members as I don’t have their permission. What a brilliant time! Two full shows today. That’s 8 hours in the hall. Trying to look serious , happy, perplexed, confused. Changing from being a villager to a Scottish villager, supporting Robin Hood in a wrestling match, capturing Robin Hood in Scotland. Visiting the court of Prince John and the Sheriff of Penkhull and being in the presence of King Richard. Squabbling with other villagers and getting into fights. All while watching the action as Robin tries to rescue Maid Marian when she is actually quite capable of rescuing herself. Add a mad sketch which shall not be revealed at the start of the second act, and large and small Loch Ness monsters chasing the cast round the hall.

So much more goes into putting on a show than the people acting. There is the stage crew who make and place props as they are required, including a mocked up wrestling ring. There is sound and lighting. There are the amazing people creating the costumes. The make up artists trying to paint the faces of almost 40 members of the cast. The people selling tea and drinks  Mostly though it’s down to a local woman who wrote and directed our version of Robin Hood. How she kept all the adult and junior cast going and persuaded us to put it on is beyond me.

So after  4 performances including 2 yesterday, that finished about 4 hours ago … Well all I can say is I’m glad I was in it and congratulations everyone. We’ve had really great feedback from audience members. I want to do it all again!

Waiting to go on…

After 3 or more months of rehearsal it’s the first night of the panto at penkhull . Robin Hood is going to run round in a flap with  his merry men. Prince John, the sheriff of penkhull and the goons are taxing and harassing people. The villagers are assisting  Robin in his attempts to be macho.

I’m nervous. I need to hide!

I hope not to break a real leg! See you on the other side… DSC_1495