St Teath Village Website

Future Plans

The outcomes from the very well-received pantomime described below were discussed at a meeting on February 22. Items included the storage of costumes, the sound system and the provision of roller-based background scenery.

It was proposed to present a Murder Mystery play some time in the autumn and a meeting about this is planned for Thursday, June 12 at 7.30 pm. More potential actors and helpers are welcome.

More information from Jayne Stark on 07876 414 616

St Teath Drama Group's presention of Mother Goose

February 2008

Photos: Adrian Jasper

Director Elaine Fell

For the last couple of years ELAINE FELL has played the role of principal boy in St. Teath Drama Group's pantomime but this year she decided to try her hand at directing. "Mother Goose" was chosen, the church hall was booked for four February performances, the cast was chosen. So far, so good. Then one cast member after another was forced to drop out and rehearsals were hit by illness when many people were hit by a virulent "bug". Few people could have blamed Elaine if she was regretting her decision or, at the very least, suffered from sleepless nights. If so, she needn't have worried.She only had to listen to the congratulations and praise of the audiences to know the pantomime was a resounding success.

The story is based around penniless Mother Goose (obviously) who becomes rich, thanks to Candy the magic goose and her golden eggs.But Mother Goose is bewitched by wicked fairy, Vanity, into giving Candy away in return for youth and beauty. Fortunately her children, silly Billy and Jill plus Jill's fiance, Jack, manage to put everything right with the help of good fairy Virtue, thwarting miserly Squire Sydney Snyde who wants Candy for himself. Having stepped in to take over the title role when another actor had to pull out, the REV JIM BENTON-EVANS even sacrificed his beard to make his debut as St. Teath pantomime dame. His first appearance in traditional dame's costume caused surprise and laughter but his "transformation" as beautiful young Gertrude Goose lefteveryone speechless. Long blonde wig, pencil skirt, high-heeled boots - who would have recognised the North Cornwall cluster vicar!

Last year's "dame" in nurse's uniform, JOHN MUNRO, became the villain this year as the mean money-grabbing squire, sneering and threatening in true pantomime tradition. His fellow "baddie", wicked fairy Vanity, was played to perfection by ROSE SQUIRES in costume and wig of purple and black, defiantly baiting the audience and challenging them to boo louder and longer. In contrast ANN HALE, as good fairy Virtue, was gentle and meek. Somehow Ann managed to combine her first role on stage with her duties as wardrobe mistress, providing outfits from the delicate gauzy fairies' dresses to the macabre black costumes of the witches and skeletons.Two more newcomers, REV JEM THOROLD and LAURA STRACHAN, were the star-crossed lovers, Jack and Jill - a hero much given to heroic stances and ad-libbing and a heroine with a touch of the feisty as well as the romantic, with the unenviable task of appearing to cry her eyes out while everyone else was in fits of laughter at her partner's dramatic poses. As well as the witty one-liners there was plenty of slapstick comedy too from the Will-Hay type of antics in the schoolroom to trifle slapped in the faces of poor long-suffering Billy and the wicked squire.

The long-established comedy duo of DAVID JASPER and JAYNE STARK caused havoc and mayhem as bungling oddjobmen, Scratchit and Bodgit, while JOHN DUNSTAN as silly Billy enlisted the help of the audience to protect his pet snail, with shouts of "Slimey!" every time anyone went anywhere near it. His jokes may have drawn groans but his comic timing and pathos, ensured he was a firm favourite with the audience. Everyone felt sorry for him when the wonderful "bird" who promised to be the love of his life turned out to be an outsize goose. With only a few weeks to familiarise himself with role, JOHN POTTER brought the goose to life - a goose with attitude. Children are a huge asset to any pantomime and the nine in this show, ranging in age from teenager ABI to six-year-old BROCK played a major part in the success of the performance, wherther they were fairies, witches, skeletons or troublesome schoolchildren.

With excellent direction by Elaine, superb costumes, and sound and lights by GEOFF SQUIRES (you are needed back on stage, Geoff!) this was a first rate pantomime by St. Teath Drama Group. The last line of the show promises "We'll see you all next year". Could you do it all again, Elaine?

Schoolboy and schoolgirl: Ollie Leach and Abi Hunn. Chorus: Jean Burden, Lorraine Jasper, Dianne Potter, Chloe Hunn, Rosie Morey, Tabatha Benton-Evans, Phoebe Benton-Evans, Sam Leach, John Leach, Brock Leach. Director: Elaine Fell. Backstage: Adrian Jasper, Rod Keat, Tracy Leach, Dean Leach. Curtains: Malcolm Warman. Publicity: Adrian Jasper. Scenery: Fiona Alexandrou and Laura Strachan

We are indebted to the St Blazey Drama Group for the loan of a Mother Goose costume.

Barbara Strachan

The Cast
Mother Goose Jim Benton-Evans	Candy John Potter	Squire Sydney Snyde John Munro	Billy Goose John Dunstan
Jill Goose Laura Strachan	Jack Jem Thorold	Bodgit Jayne Stark	Scratchit David Jasper
Virtue Ann Hale	Vanity Rose Squires	Schoolboy Ollie Leach	Schoolgirl Abi Hunn

Pictures from the performance - click to view full size