ROBIN OF WYCHWOOD. To 10 January.
Chipping Norton
ROBIN OF WYCHWOOD
by Tony Bicat
The Theatre Chipping Norton To 10 January 2004
Mon-Sat various dates at 1.30,2,4.30,5,7.30,7.45pm no performance 25 December
Audio-described 6 January 7.30pm
Runs 2hr 5min One interval
TICKETS: 01608 642324
boxoffice@chippingnortontheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 12 December
Local colour, good nature and a superb use of the venue provide a delightful show.This isn't the grandest, subtlest, or wittiest panto of all time, or even this season. Oh no. Dudley Rogers' Dame Grizelda is handsomely or beautifully costumed, but is happy to stand around as if his/her very sight and presence were sufficient. Nor has Tony Bicat given him/her very fluent rhyming couplets. Acting standards vary. Yet the piece is enchanting.
For one thing, its story zings along, with plenty of ingredients. Young Sam and Janet could almost qualify for babes in the wood, were it not for the Dame's sometimes careful attention. They're off to the domestic jungle of evil Baron Bullnose. He's stolen Marion's mansion from under her nose with forged papers, and brings her up in poverty, yet grateful for his imagined generosity in keeping her at all.
Also purveying moments of hiss-worthy spleen is Old Mother Shipton, though her ecological credentials save her from audience disapproval. It's our hero Robin who's first seen axing an oak yet carefully planting a couple of acorns to replenish the forest.
Then there are the Dunsden brothers, Tom and Harry, robbers both who'd like to make waves but can barely raise a splash, they're so comically inefficient. Nor can they muster a dry eye between them when they think of late brother Dick and his fate at the gallows.
They receive neatly-turned performances from Jonny Hoskins and Gary Bates to offset Richard Metcalfe's openly nasty, self-admiring aristo. In a sense, though, the star of the show is the theatre itself. A delightful 18th century-like box, even the second row side gallery proved a decent seat, actors' asides seeming intimate and individually addressed.
Simon Higlett plays to the stage's strength with groovy scenery that is, 2-dimensional evocations of forest and home that look as if they might have been slid into place on old-style floor grooves.
Add the drop-curtains for front-stage scenes, Paul Need's colourful lighting, and a strong musical score, and the atmosphere's as individual as the Hook Norton ale which, along with the ancient Rollright stones that feature in several scenes, helps give a strong local flavour to this enjoyable show.
Robin of Wychwood: Michael Lovatt
Sam: Oliver Naylor
Janet: Debbie Manuel
Grizelda Brostrum: Dudley Rogers
Old Mother Shipton/Marion Chad: Lisa Moule
Tom Dunsden: Jonny Hoskins
Harry Dunsden: Gary Bates
Baron Bullnose of Oxford: Richard Metcalfe
Red Pippins:
Charlotte Fenton, Robert Fenton, Jack Pearson, Peter Ryecroft, Charlotte Sabin, India Shaw-Smith
Blue Pippins Team:
Nathan Chai, Jessie Chai, Matthew Herbert, Millie Elmer-Menage, Beth Smith, Jodie Tyack
Director: Caroline Sharman
Designer: Simon Higlett
Lighting: Paul Need
Composer: Nick Bicat
Musical Director: Peter Pontzen
Choreographer/Assistant director: Tim Claydon
Costume: Tina Bicat
2003-12-16 02:10:10