The History Of Lilleshall Pantomine
The Three Musketeers - 1993
This year saw the addition of a new scriptwriter to the group. Les Brown who had joined the Group to play Kassim in Sinbad, taken on the role of Dame in Sleeping Beauty and then blundered around the 'woods' in great comic style as Wilberforce Rose in Sleeping Beauty, offered to take on the responsibility of providing the script this year. One of the strengths of Lilleshall Pantomime Group was that we relied on no-one but ourselves to provide the scripts. Les had written this particular script some years earlier for another group he was involved with, before he moved to this area. He presented it to the Group and with a few updates and minor changes it was decided it would be fun to do!
Last year's Director, went back on Stage as D'Artagnan but Evelyn stayed at the Helm as Producer. Les agreed to direct his own script but also took on the role of Sgt Brie. Graham Gibson returned to the Stage in many frocks, as the Dame, Madame Bonbon.
Carol Brown, who used to be a dance teacher, took over children's choreography and with her son Ian, in fine and menacing form as evil Cardinal Richelieu, the Pantomime was drawing in families, all giving up their time. Evelyn, who many now thought of as resident Producer, was working alongside her husband, Alastair, who was in charge of sound and her teenage son, Chris, who was sword fighting his way around the stage as Compte de Roquefort. Another Pantomime dynasty was being formed, as Colin Reynolds, working on props, scenery and staging, was working alongside his son Steve (on lighting) his daughter, Celia (on stage) his grandchildren, Roy and Nicola (singing and dancing in the children's scenes!)... even Celia's husband had been roped in to video the earlier Shows. Many of the cast and crew were working alongside other family members. It was a good time to be part of the Group and the social scene it was creating within the village and local area.
This social and family commitment to Lilleshall Pantomime, not only was fun, but was something the Group hoped would continue for many years to come.