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THE FIRST PANTOMIME - DICK WHITTINGTON (JANUARY 1958) |
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Pantomime first came into being hundreds of years ago, and when it was performed on the London stage in the 19th century it was very slow, broad comedy indeed, and meant as purely entertainment for children. But today, children of all ages demand a more modern theme - and who better to provide it than the Hatton Operatic Society? Thus we were the first society to stage pantomime in Feltham. |
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The first suggestion that we should do so was met with much vigorous criticism and some doubt, but being a Society vibrating with ambition, our Producer (Ken) said that the least we could do was to try it and see whether the public responded. So we went into rehearsal for "Dick Whittington" and found we were getting a great deal of fun out ofit. |
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Never shall we forget the wave of elation that swept over us at the Saturday matinee, as a cascade of cheering and clapping came up from the darkness of the auditorium. Children applauding! What a wonderful sound! It caught at our throats, it made us feel both proud and humble; it made all our efforts worthwhile. Not only the efforts of those who acted on stage, but of those who played their parts in sweaters and slacks, manoeuvring scenery and switches, those who made music and conducted it. The success of the show rested on the efforts of each individual, and I am glad to admit a simple gratitude for the privilege of taking part in it. |
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Whenever the word "Valentine" is heard, it brings back the memory of eight debonair men in immaculate white flannels, striped blazers and straw hats (representing neither Eton nor Harrow) skipping in a circle round the stage in perfect time to the music "I'll be your sweetheart if you will be mine" Then as Alf Smith leaped into a swing and was swung to and fro out over the orchestra, we all took up the refrain. Many very realistic scenes were staged - King Neptune rising from the depth of the sea during a thunderstorm, his voice deep and big and echoing (surely Fred Morris's most famous part) as the deck of the ship rolled so convincingly that one almost felt the need of sea-sickness pills. And Tommy the Cat who somehow managed to do a bit of courting during the acts turned up with a bride at the finale. |
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The absence of Robby from our show was tragedy indeed, but ill health prevented him from taking an acting part for the first time in twelve years, though he was still able to give great assistance behind the scenes. And so we felt justly proud of our first pantomime; it was a great success, and for us, an emotional experience, for back in the dressing rooms many eyes were tear-dimmed for the wonderful ovation we had received. |
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DORIS SEAMAN |
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EDITOR'S NOTE |
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The programme for "Dick Whittington" does not contain a list of musical items but the following extract from a review in a local paper gives some idea of the musical content: |
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"Musically it is a gay patchwork of well-known melodies, but as anything can happen in pantomime, one overlooks the incongruity of King Rat singing "The Song of the Flea" while scenery is being changed (after all, rats also have fleas) and of having "I'll Be Your Sweetheart" and "Someday I'll Find You" side by side with snatches from "Peer Gynt" and the overture from "William Tell". Another scene-shifting stop gap which on Wednesday "brought down the house" (and the apparatus) is a sextet of bellringers singing and pulling most lustily. |
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Nineteen fifty-eight is a year which will be remembered by the Hatton Operatic Society as one in which we greatly mourned the loss of three members and for most of us the rehearsals for this show were marked by sadness. The tragic sadness that only the finality of death can bring. In the spring, Frank Holloway passed away after a long illness, and although he had not been with the Company long enough to be a great actor, his artistic achievements had made him invaluable behind the scenes. Following his loss, we were appalled at the sudden death of Tony Hunt, who was drowned whilst swimming in the River Thames at Staines. His polite, unassuming air, his rich baritone voice and his quiet habit of walking about at rehearsals with his hands behind his back, were characteristic of a young fellow liked by all. We were still mourning his loss, when Ted Miller, for very many years a staunch figure in the chorus - grey-clad, solid and reliable - died quite suddenly. |