Beauty & The Beast {The Pantomime}
Thursday, November 05 2009 @ 04:29 PM GMT
Contributed by: Tom Conneeley
‘…and gentlefolk of Hemyock shall think themselves accursed they were not there…
Over four nights Valley Arts provided good family fun with near full capacity audiences throughout. Their autumn Pantomime ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was by common consensus hugely enjoyed with the Parish Hall rocking with laughter.
The production, saw a local cast, singing, dancing and generally having a good time.telling the traditional story of the handsome prince cursed to have the appearance of a Beast until he is transformed back to his former self by true love.The humorous script, wonderful songs and enthusiasm of all concerned with this production reinforces the view that Valley Arts is going from strength to strength.
Directed and choreographed by Janet and her daughter Jo Elworthy respectively the production was well cast and blessed with excellent performances across the board with particular mention for the groups newcomers Hedley Thorne {a wonderfully bumbly professor}, Richard Shepherd {a hugely humorous Button}, Martin Sweetland {aptly cast as Dwayne Vain!!!}, Vikki Parsons {the very coquettish Giselle / Chest of Drawers} and Helen Williams {an extremely talented Beauty}.
Due to the short illness of Stuart Summers at the start of the shows run, Beauty was wooed by two stand in” Handsome” Princes Stewart Lydden on Tuesday and Tom Conneeley on Wednesday.This abundance of princes bodes well for future shows !!!!
Hemyock - A Village on the Blackdown Hills
http://hemyock.org/article.php/20091105162935591