Denton a village in South Norfolk, England

Denton Variety Club – 2013

This year’s adult production was “Mary Mary Quite Contrary” performed on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd February.

Poster

Baz Poster

The Programme

Program Page 1 Program Page 2 Program Page 3

Review 1

From the Parish Magazine - March 2013

This imaginative club has always defied convention in its pantomime productions, and this latest one is no exception.

You lose count of the number of nursery rhymes mentioned and a basic concept of pantomime - the maiden keen to marry the prince - goes out of the window as writer and director, Gill Hipwell, puts her creative pen to work once more.

The result is another highly entertaining show, with several members new to the club making their debuts to telling effect as it bubbles along with fun, song, effervescence and ad-libbing aplenty - and several dames.

Katherine Cooper makes her first appearance as Mary, whose forthright approach breaks the fairy tale mould, and she does it with conviction and clarity. Matt Smith makes a welcome return in the main dame role of Mother Hubbard and takes it on with relish and vigour, while Mike Fitzgerald performs similarly as the Queen of Hearts, keen to see King George (Denise Grant), Prince Edward (Doris Lambert) and Prince Arthur (Jasmine Symons) married off.

Those three make a great team along with Peter Grant as the stuttering Peter Piper.

These are all variety club regulars, and joining them to great effect are Sarah Henderson as Sukey and Allan Henderson as Badger Bill. Kerry Norfolk also makes her debut as Luey Lockett, and Sam Norfolk as The Flyer, while Alex Eley makes a great job as Puss.

Young members Lydia Sida-Page and Martha Craggs are Jack and Jill and delight in making a mess of the cake-making scene.

Club veterans Chris Whipps and Terry Hanner are Georgy Porgy and The Sheriff respectively, but their best scenes are in drag as Nigella and Delia, who join Sam Norfolk as Sophie in the roles of spoilt princesses. They get lots of spontaneous laughs from the knowledgeable audience (they know everyone on stage).

Kate Bindloss as Kitty Fisher and Pauline Townsend as Polly complete the cast in a show which provided pleasure and enjoyment for the Denton community over four nights. Everyone involved, including producer Margaret Parsons, wardrobe mistress Barbara Spaul and stage manager Nigel Seamons, deserve high praise for keeping this Denton tradition in rude health.

Review 2

Courtesy of the Beccles and Bungay Journal, 01/03/13.

This imaginative club has always defied convention in its pantomime productions, and this latest one is no exception.

You lose count of the number of nursery rhymes mentioned and a basic concept of pantomime — the maiden keen to marry the prince – goes out of the window as writer and director Gill Hipwell puts her creative pen to work once more.

The result is another highly entertaining show, with several members new to the club making their debuts to telling effect as it bubbles along with fun, song, effervescence and ad-libbing aplenty — and several dames.

Katherine Cooper makes her first appearance as Mary, whose forthright approach breaks the fairy tale mould, and she does it with conviction and clarity. Matt Smith makes a welcome return in the main dame role of Mother Hubbard and takes it on with relish and vigour, while Mike Fitzgerald performs similarly as the Queen of Hearts, keen to see King George (Denise Grant), Prince Edward (Doris Lambert) and Prince Arthur (Jasmine Symons) married off.

Those three make a great team, along with Peter Grant as the stuttering Peter Piper. These are all variety club regulars, and joining them to great effect are Sarah Henderson as Sukey and Allan Henderson as Badger Bill. Kerry Norfolk also makes her debut as Lucy Lockett, and Sam Norfolk as The Flyer, while Alex Eley makes a great job as Puss.

Young members Lydia Sida-Page and Martha Craggs are Jack and Jill and delight in making a mess of the cake-making scene.

Cub veterans Chris Whipps and Terry Hanner are Gerogy Porgy and The Sheriff respectively, but their best scenes are in drag as Nigella and Delia, who join Sam Norfok as Sophie in the roles of spoilt princesses. They get lots of spontaneous laughs from the knowledgeable audience (they know everyone on stage).

Kate Bindloss as Kitty Fisher and Pauline Townsend as Polly complete the cast in a show which provided pleasure and enjoyment for the Denton community over four nights. Everyone involved, including producer Margaret Parsons, wardrobe mistress Barbara Spaul and stage manager Nigel Seamons, deserve high praise for keeping this Denton tradition in rude health.

Photographs

mary1 mary2 mary3

These pictures are by Lisa North. A larger selection is available on her Website under Client Area and in a gallery called Denton Panto 2013. No password required and prints can be ordered.