The History Of Lilleshall Pantomine
Treasure Island - 1997
Looking again for something different for this year's Show, we turned once again to Les Brown. Les brought a script he wrote some years ago, modified it, updated the current jokes and asked the Committee what they thought about it. Every one agreed that the script was very funny and would make a good Show.
So, it was on an early Autumn evening that the casting meeting for Treasure Island took place. Subsequent weeks saw the cast get to grips with creating the jolly Admiral Benbow Inn with its motley crew of hangers on, ne'er do wells and pirates. A fun feature of this Pantomime was the character of Captain Flint, the parrot. This parrot didn't sit on Long John Silver's shoulder as it was a larger than life wise-cracking, singing parrot played by a twelve year old Nicola Fox.
By the time January arrived, the cast began to show their expertise by not using their scripts .....secreting them behind the piano....hiding them behind props....up sleeves etc! The Director, trying to find all the hiding places, while the Producer was having nightmares that we would never be ready for opening night. February blew in like an icy blast and cast and crew continued to turn out for rehearsals on dark, cold nights. As always, a little touch of panic set in but determination and effort started to pull the production together. Lovely costumes began to emerge from our now extensive costume cupboard, having been worked on, stitched, altered and given that little touch of magic by the dedicated wardrobe mistress, Carol Baker with the help of Margaret Hullin, whose husband Brad worked tirelessly as he always did, in the background, erecting the lighting rig, hanging off the scaffold (high in the roof of the hall), helping Pete Bowyer set up the lights.
When March arrived, scenery was deigned and painted by Celia Fox and her Father Colin Reynolds, with an enthusiastic bunch of helpers. The Lighting system was erected, sound tapes were prepared, tickets sold and the Show was ready to open. It had been nearly twelve months since Les Brown offered his script until the actual performance but audiences and everyone involved agreed it had all been worth it!