Stainbeck Players
Stainbeck Players have been a part of Stainbeck Church since 1954.The Drama Group has changed over the years from the membership comprising church members to the present day membership which now includes non-church members.
Although we are a small group we perform two plays a year, usually in May and October. We also present a pantomime each February at the School half-term holiday. As well as the players themselves the pantomime includes lots of local children. The children have fun rehearsing and enjoy the performances too.
Rehearsal nights for our productions are on a Monday.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PANTOMIME - FEBRUARY 13TH - 16TH 2008
'Franky Panky' by Graham Barraclough
Produced by Peter L Craske
A review by Cathy Harrison
Monster mania took over Stainbeck Church for four nights in February, with the pantomime “Franky Panky”. Set in the Swiss village of Nockembach, the story was told in typical panto fashion. Boy meets girl. Girl is captured by an evil baron (who has created a monster). With a little help from his friends (and the monster), our hero rescues his lady from the evil baron’s clutches and everybody lives happily ever after.
The show was ably performed by a cast of old favourites and newcomers. The panto veterans Ian Parker (Flossie Flinch) and Steve Grant (Ziggy) led from the front, performing their well-honed comedy double act in their own inimitable fashion. The romantic leads, Karl and Sally, were beautifully acted by William Grant and Jasmine Boston. The evil Baron Frankenstein was performed with delicious villainy by Mike Burkoff, accompanied by his sidekicks Gussie and Gunther Grimm – an excellent comic performance by Sandra Smith and Doreen Moore. Monty the Monster was very well played by Ricci Bahia.
All of the above were very well supported by a host of fine performers: Anne Coates (Igor Blimey), John and Cynthia Harrison (Horst Roff and Berta Kupp), Jackie Watt (Mitzi Bitzi), Dave Jones (the Burgermeister) and a wonderful cameo from Olivia Butterworth as Elsie Eskel, the cantankerous castle cook.
There was a talented chorus of skeletons, ghosts, trees, creatures and villagers, with some lovely singing and dancing. The luminous skeleton dance by the younger chorus members was particularly effective and their tree dance was performed with great enthusiasm and obvious enjoyment.
The show was brilliantly staged by the very experienced backstage crew. Peter L Craske did a fine job as producer, Margaret Wade and Bob Watt did sterling work as ‘the orchestra’, Joan Craske produced wonderful artwork for the stage sets, and Helen Inglis created marvellous costumes for the cast. Peter Moore and Jack Lord put together a fabulous stage set and handled props, Adam Henshaw was responsible for the very effective lighting and sound effects and John Mawson and Louis Blair did a great job as stage hands. Tickets on the door and teas during the interval were capably handled by the front of house team.
The panto was very much enjoyed by enthusiastic audiences, all of whom (I have no doubt) were singing the Monster Mash all the way home. Well done to all concerned!
And from the other side of the green velvet curtains - once again many thanks and three cheers for Peter who pulled everything together – both literally and metaphorically. His energy was unceasing and all the cast from the littlest newcomer to the oldest of the old timers are grateful for the opportunity he gave us to once again have Stainbeck audiences shouting and laughing as only they can. Hard work? Yes - but worth it, if only to see our children having so much fun. Thank you. Ann Coates
Also an email from a young member of the audience – I thought that the best bit was when they were all doing the singing together. Well some were not. I thought the monster was very good.
Love from Daisy Hance aged 6