The History Of Lilleshall Pantomine
Pinnochio - 1996
For 1996, the group turned once again to the writing talents of Graham Gibson, who thought he would like to create a pantomime script based upon the story of Pinnochio. While Graham worked hard during the summer months to complete his script, the production team met to discuss how to stage this Show. Geoff Lott, last seen romping around in a colourful playsuit as a rather large babe in 'Babes in the Wood' (1994) joined the production team as Stage Manager, leaving Pete Bowyer to devote his talents to Lighting. Geoff's enthusiasm and innovative ideas often amazed cast as well as crew! For this production, he devised and created a working prothesis...'a growing nose, worn and controlled by a young Nicola Fox, playing the part of Pinnochio.
Design and painting of the scenery was taken over this year, by Celia Fox. She gathered together a willing team of cast and chorus members to help her create the backdrops that were required. A particular favourite, this year was the carefully detailed backdrop, painted to look like Geppetto's workshop. Don and Joan Ryder continued as the musical directors as they had for many of the past productions.
Graham Gibson returned to directing again this year but had support from Margaret Hullin as Assistant Director, while Carol Baker took on the challenging role of Wardrobe Mistress. Again, a strength of the Group was in the inter-changing of roles within the production team and the sharing of the expertise that the Group had developed.
In the casting, principal roles were being taken by members who had joined the Group as Chorus, or from the youth group members. Principals of past Shows often stood aside, taking on minor roles, in order to allow others in the Group to develop their skills and have their moment in the spotlight!
It was becoming a focus of the Group to try and allow everyone a chance to be a 'star' for a while.
Alison Phillips, who had played Cinderella in 1989 and Princess Jasmine in 'Sinbad'(1990)created a wooden replica of Pinnochio, identically dressed to the 'real' Pinnochio(Nicola Fox) which was used in the original toy scene. We were lucky to be able to draw on Alison's costuming and creating talents, as she was now more likely to be found being extremely busy and industrious in her 'new role' as the wardrobe mistress at the world famous Blists Hill Victorian Museum in Ironbridge. (It is rumoured that Alison gave the large wooden doll to young Nicola to keep as a reminder of her role as Pinnochio!)