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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (JANUARY 1961) |
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It was decided that once again we should put on a Pantomime after our last happy and successful show “The Jolly Roger”, and in typical Newellesque manner, Ken produced his third libretto. The intervening weeks were a flurry of concentration to learn words and music, but we very nearly had an operatic fallout. A gale was blowing from the North Pole straight through our dressing rooms, and the stage was so cold before curtain-up that it was almost vibrating with a huddle of shivering damsels in pale mauve embossed with pimples, where their scanty costumes did not protect them from the cold. |
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Unfortunately Phyllis Knight, who had taken a lead in our productions for so many years, gracefully retired from any active part (temporarily, we hope) and auditions were held for a new star to play Princess Beauty. Eventually Pat Green (now Pat Hilbert), who has been in the ballet team for many years, was given the part, and very creditably upheld the tradition for grace and beauty which this role demands. An innovation in the ballet was the introduction of some attractive dances performed by very young pupils of Vida Goodall's Academy. |
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Contrary to some expectations, the arrival of the Beast (Geoff Brooker) in the enchanted garden, did not scare the youngsters in the audience, and when four would-be Dames sang the Lollipop chorus, the children scampered on to the stage to join in and qualify for a lollipop. |
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The realistic way in which the Wicked Fairy (Frankie Higgins) was shot in her prime, leaving the Lord Chamberlain (Vic Randall) with a smoking pistol in his hand was deservedly applauded. |
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The first performance of this Pantomime was given on the last day of December, which constituted a record for our Producer, by having two of his own plays performed in one year. His energy at rehearsals is inexhaustible. He can show you how to hop like a bunny around the stage, and after bounding into the wings in three frenzied leaps, he next demonstrated how to do rock 'n roll with a girl on your knee. His flexible agility made me feel like Picasso's “Age of Man”. In the act of staggering with an arrow in his seat, he was a rival to any tragedian, and we were often more exhausted with laughing than by our own exertions. There were some very good lighting effects in this show, for which praise must be given to Michael Bartlett. |
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Great stuff, pantomime rehearsals! |
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DORIS SEAMAN |
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EXTRACTS FROM PRESS REVIEWS |
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“Keynote”, Richmond & Twickenham Times |
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Kenneth Newell's happy knack of designing a pantomime equally acceptable to children and adults ensured the success of “Beauty and the Beast”, his latest excursion into the realms of fantasy. While not sticking too closely to the fairy-tale, the author has produced a plot around the main imaginary characters that hangs together, and at the same time has allowed himself plenty of scope for comedy, song and dance in recounting the fortunes or misfortunes of the mortals which, compared with the supernatural beings, are of the earth, earthy. |
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Neither the financial resources of Hatton Operatic Society nor the stage at Lafone School could support large transformation scenes: in fact, undue emphasis on the spectacular would have been out of place in an essentially homely, cosy production, but the nine pretty sets served their purpose, there was plenty of colour and variety in the costumes and enough red fire and sparkle to give the right illusion of magic. |
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If little of the music was original, the score had the merit of being melodious and apt, and who would complain that popular tunes of another generation, folk-songs and pickings of Strauss, German, Tchaikovsky and Wagner were all put into the stew-pot if the resultant concoction was highly palatable?...... |
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There was a very good responsive audience on Saturday night and their laughter, high spirits, and willingness to join in the choruses was the best evidence that Kenneth Newell and his talented team had provided a thoroughly enjoyable Christmas entertainment. |
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Maurice Reeve (“Middlesex Chronicle”) |
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It is too long and could have done with some pruning ... I expect the piece has been speeded up by now. |