THE recent Seend Fawlty Players pantomime was The Frog Prince or Sleeping Beauty, the Sequel, performed at Seend Community Centre on 16th to 18th February.
Speaking about the show, Tessa Doe said, “If you go to a Seend Fawlty Players’ panto, expect the unexpected. Last year a camel wandering around the forest in Red Riding Hood and this year a garden gnome in drag battling with a crocodile on the end of her fishing line. And the one and only Melksham News featured in the show!
“The show’s director and co-writer (with Tessa Doe and Dan Payne) Anita Shea, had the bright idea of combining the tale of Sleeping Beauty with that of the Frog Prince by having the prince who awakens the princess with a kiss then be turned into a frog by the wicked fairy.
“The pantomime played to a packed Seend Community Centre on three nights, 16th, 17th and 18th February. Audience participation was enthusiastic to say the least. Stacey Vaux as Princess Beauty and Chris Waylen as the Frog Prince provided comedy, romance, pathos and some splendid singing.
“Andy Nutland and Mel Collinge-Cubberley were excellent as the King and Queen; with Ronja Galloway as the princess’s sister (the ‘spare’) and Tessa Doe as Queen Mum completing the royal family. John Jameson-Davis as the much-maligned court clown; Toby Wallis as erudite servant, dogsbody; Anita Shea as the cook competing with the talents of Eric the French chef, played by Sam Chard, made up the remainder of the palace residents.
“Magic was created by good fairies Jackie Hamblin, Paula Mansergh, Jan Field and Emily Bradford-Scoble, while Pete Wallis played the wicked fairy that the audience loved to hate.
“Meanwhile, at the palace pond, Len Murray and Dan Payne played Noreen and Norbert, two garden gnomes sat on magnificent toadstools and three human-size hoppy and croaky frogs were played by Tom Butter, Magnus Payne and Euan Bradford-Scoble.
“Anita Shea was in charge of costumes and Deryn Stafford accompanied the cast on piano. Scenery painters, prop makers, make-up artists, front of house and backstage crew were; Dave Field (who also appeared as an accordion-playing elf), Colin Waldeck, Sarah Clover, Phoebe Martin, Tess Conboy, Anne Ewing and Graham Hamblin. Lighting was provided by Paul Seemayer.
“Over the three nights the group raised £500 to donate to Melksham Food Bank and Devizes Opendoors.”
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