Panto tonight! ❤️

Posted on February 23, 2023February 23, 2023 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, audience, Fun, Painting on board, Pantomime, Penkhull panto, Performance, Silly, StageLeave a comment

The Penkhull panto was on tonight (and Friday and Saturday) and I really enjoyed it. It was strange being in the audience, but I got a chance to see the whole thing. It was written by the director who is also one of the cast. Jennifer Whittaker-Vyse.

They didn’t use my Scottish panel in the travelling scene (where Robin heads to Scotland to rescue Maid Marian, when she had been sent there by the evil Sheriff). But they did use the ones I painted a few years ago, including the houses of Parliament, the London Eye, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids, Sidney Opera House, and The Statue of Liberty. So basically the cast pretend to walk as the boards are carried being them. I think it didn’t quite fit the theme? Oh well. I got a thank you in the programme.

Overall it was a good show, silly and fun, with modern and ancient action. The pixies seemed to be rapping? As in all productions there were a few tiny fluffed lines that turned out to be hilarious! The lock Ness monster showed up too and people enjoyed singing along with the songs.

The best thing is there is no sponsor, so no advertisements shoe-horned into the production. There were cheers of ‘it’s behind you’ and ‘oh yes it is, oh no its not!’. If you don’t know pantomime check it out on Google or Wikipedia. Loved it!

Just a pre lockdown photo.

Posted on July 12, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acting, Art, Blogging, Fun, Humour, Memories, Pantomime, Penkhull panto, Performance, Scenery, Scenery ainting, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent2 Comments

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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?

I want to post some panto photos.. But I can’t!

Posted on February 19, 2020February 19, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Break a leg, Comedy, Dance humour, Environment, Fun, Life, Music, Panto, Pantomime, Penkhull, Penkhull panto, song, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trentLeave a comment

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Sneak peek of the washing machine front I’ve painted. Today was the dress rehearsal, one person had a problem as her trouser elastic snapped and they fell off as she was trying to make her entrance. I was practicing part of a song, and forgot to go on stage to sing that song. We got a lot of feedback on the mike’s. One of the helpers or cast got a parking ticket even though they were arked correctly… I still can’t remember all my lines, and in one scene the person before me completely forgot his so I didn’t know where I was! And breathe….

But on the whole we are getting it. There are lots of songs, dance, sketches, a nice story, an evil villan and lots of fun.

More rehearsals

Posted on February 2, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acting, Dancing, Drama, Fun, Life, Pantomime, Penkhull, Penkhull panto, Penkhull Village Hall, Rehearsing, SoonLeave a comment

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!

Panto rehearsal

Posted on January 10, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Aladdin, Dancing, Fun, Humour, Life, Panto, Pantomime, Penkhull, Penkhull pantoLeave a comment

Can’t show you the show, it’s a secret, but rehearsals continue for the pantomime we are putting on in February. (20th, 21st and two shows on the 22nd).

The show is Aladdin, where he has to find an old lamp, which is then taken from him together with his true love by an evil wizard. Fun ensues.

Tonight we were practising the dances (which is why I haven’t posted a photo). It was hard to get right, basically the choreographer is making it up as she goes along and we have to follow her moves. I’m not the most nimble and I can’t keep up. But we’ve got time.

Fingers crossed.

Panto

Posted on October 26, 2018 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acting, Comedy, Fun, Humour, Panto, Pantomime, Penkhull panto, Theatre3 Comments

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We have just started Panto rehearsals again, people in the UK will know what that means, but some of my friends havent heard if it.

Pantomime has been a regular theatrical entertainment for many years. Sometimes it gets quite commercial and is sponsored by local shops or businesses but ours isnt. Which is good as It doesn’t affect the story.

Subjects include things like Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, or in our case we are doing Robin Hood. So, then there is a lot of comedy, children telling jokes, people dressed as monsters or wolves or ghosts and chasing the cast about. There are pratfalls and custard pies, bad villains and silly goons.

Generally someone gets captured or kidnapped and has to be rescued, either on a magic carpet or using a magic lamp or some other magical trick. That’s what happens in the Second Act. We have to learn lots of songs, usually slightly rewritten to fit the story.

There are the usual things, “it’s behind you” when something or someone is creeping up on our hero /heroine. Or the “oh yes it is” “oh no it isnt” bit where the audience knows something and one of the principal cast is trying to tell them they are wrong.

We have a brilliant wardrobe mistress who kits us out in costumes. The picture above is one of the cast dressed as a pot bank. Our costumes are hard work for her, she and a small team make costumes for 30 to 40 adults and children.

There is also work making the sets and painting the scenery. It takes months to organise. Our show is usually on in January but that means rehearsing over Christmas week. So it has been decided to put it back till February 2019.

Maybe I will put some photos of it on here next year !

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Penkhull panto