February 2009 Production

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - Make Mine a Double

Dr Jekyll and the evil Mr Hyde

Pantomime dames come in all shapes and sizes but few of them seem to be well over six feet tall with a physique to match, unlike Lulu, the washerwoman in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

When Bob Fox joined St. Teath Drama group he was willing to have a go at anything. The group took him at his word and Bob not only adapted the script of the well-known horrror story, but also agreed to take on the role of Lulu. He is a tall well-built man and that alone would have been enough to bring chuckles from the audience but Bob proved to be the epitome of the pantomime dame - a performance worthy of a professional, a mixture of Les Dawson and Norman Evans for those old enough to remember them.

Dr Jekyll demonstrates his invention to Jack and Lulu

He set the standard for the rest of the cast and not one member failed to rise to the challenge. As chairman, David Jasper, explained to the audiences, the group had only six weeks to rehearse this comic version of Robert Louis Stevenson's story in which Lulu, her son, Jack and Jack's girlfriend have the task of preventing Hyde and the evil matron from taking over Jekyll's hospital before the finale.

In command of the title roles were Elaine Fell as Dr. Jekyll and John Dunstan as Mr. Hyde. Jekyll could have been just a straight man to Hyde's colourful role but Elaine brought out a comic side of this eccentric character with a suggestion of the antics of Groucho Marx, a perfect contrast to his alter ego, Hyde, played with skill and comic timing by John, whose versatility had been demonstrated so well in previous productions.

Matron confronts Lulu

Returning to St. Teath pantomime after a year's absence Maria Gameson was Lulu's practical joking son, Jack, with enthusiasm and a suitably "laid back" attitude while Tracey Leach was an admirable Molly, the studious young girl who falls for Jack, despite the tricks he plays on her. Both Tracey and Diane Potter were taking on major roles for the first time but Diane played the part of the inept burglar, A Burke, with a flair for comedy that bodes well for the future.

After the thigh-slapping role of the romantic hero last year, Jem Tnorold returned as inept detective Sheerluck Jones, the romantic interest for the colourful Lulu. The scenes between these two were worth the cost of a ticket on their own.

PC Poo and prisoners

Among several newcomers this year was Natasha Golding as the evil matron, an efficient and impressive performance from the diminutive Natasha who was literally overshadowed when confronted by the very well-endowed Lulu.

Another newcomer, David Pierce threatened to steal scenes as the detective's policeman assistant and it was good to welcome back John Theobald as Lord St. Teath. The drama group was fortunate to have found three children with great acting ability and Chloe Banks, aged ten, Rosie Morey and Jay Banks, both eight years old, were a great asset.

Returning as director for a second time, Jayne Stark and fellow director David Jasper, can be very proud of such an entertaining production. It was obvious that the cast members were enjoying themselves and this enthusiasm was infectious.

For the first time animated scenery, a techonological project, was skilfully handled by Rod Keat and expertly complemented by the lighting and sound controlled by Marc Hunt. Stage manager, Moyna Fox, with the aid of John Potter, Adrian Jasper and David Jasper, ensured the 19 scene changes were carried out efficiently.

Well done, St. Teath. How do you match that next year?

Barbara Strachan

The Cast
Murse Barbara Chloe Banks	Orderly Jay Banks	Mr Hyde John Dunstan
Dr Jekyll Elaine Fell	Lulu Bob Fox	Jack Maria Gameson
Matron Natasha Golding	Molly Tracey Leach	Nurse Windsor Rosie Morey
Lanyon Rebecca Pedlar	PC Poo David Pierce	Burke Diane Potter
Lord St Teath John Theobald	Sheerluck Jones Jem Thorold	All photos: Adrian Jasper

Download programme (pdf)

St Teath Drama Group thanks NCDC's Community Chest Fund and St Teath Parish Council for financial support in the purchase of a projector

St Teath Drama Group's presention of Mother Goose

Photos: Adrian Jasper

Director Elaine Fell

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.

David Jasper

Jayne Stark

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