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Sinbad the Sailor January 2012

After what has been a traumatic period since September last year the Society was determined to put on a show that our long term friend and producer would have been proud of.

When the Society members came together in September of last year everyone knew that the 2012 production was going to be difficult without the leadership of our Producer Barbara Arundell who had passed to a higher producing level in August.

The committee pulled on the wealth of talent that is available in the Society to co-produce ‘Sinbad the Sailor’ and dedicate it to the memory of Barbara, who chose the script and the music together with Musical Director David Hookham. Along with long standing member Wendy Underwood they began rehearsals in a truly professional manner.

Every cast member from the oldest down to the youngest sunbeam has added to the extravaganza that was performed on the stage at the Assembly Room in Pontefract Town Hall the week of the show.  Alright, Wendy had to shout occasionally to make sure she was heard in rehearsals especially in the Town Hall but things progressed although one or two changes had to be made along the way.

The biggest glitch was when Andrew Chester had to have an emergency appendectomy during the week leading up to the show and had to be replaced by Robbie Fruen who incidentally learned the part in what was slightly more than a week.

A few gremlins were evident especially at the dress rehearsal and the opening performance but with everyone being diligent and doing their best things gradually became easier and all in all they gave a performance that Barbara would have been proud of.

After the inquest that will follow this year’s performance the committee will have a few months to look forward before the next production. Judging by the enthusiasm of all the performers the task ahead will not be too difficult, but finding a new producer may not be so easy.

Roy Gunson

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Sinbad the Sailor

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The following is a review from ‘Sinbad the Sailor’ January 1966

ROLLICKING PANTO RENEWS

ACROSS-THE-FOOTLIGHTS

FRIENDSHIPS

WITH rollicking gusto and all the appropriate gags and trimmings, pantomime has come to Pontefract once again.

“Sinbad the Sailor” opened on Monday at the Assembly Room, and it goes on every evening ’till Saturday when there will also be a matinee.

This is the seventeenth production of the St. Giles with St. Mary’s Amateur Pantomime Society, Pontefract, and by the applause which various principals received as soon as they stepped on the stage on the opening night, it was plain that friendships across the footlights were being happily renewed.

The essence of panto – the family atmosphere – and nowhere could it be stronger in every sense than in this home-bred show.

If anyone sees this delightful blend of enthusiasm, team spirit and talent without getting “a right good laugh” ...well there’s a Scrooge among us somewhere.

Leading laughter-makers are Mrs Sinbad, played by Jack Bridgett (who also carried the burden of production), “her” waiter Ali Aly, played by John A Gardner (a roof raiser in song and dance acts) and Penelope-Jo, the Princess’s servant, played by Ivy Bridgett, who is equal to Ali Aly in all his hilarious cantrips.

Sweet singer

Margaret Martin is a winsome Princess Leyla, moving through her part with a charming air of gaiety,

Sinbad, her lover is played by Anne C. Shaw, appropriately impressive in the garb of principal boy, and singing with sweetness.

Geoffrey Bullock does well as Captain Codd, striding and shouting in true quarterdeck manner.

Other “mortals” include Norman J. Dale as the Kalif of Baghdad; H. Kebir Berry as Sheikh Abu-Kasim;

Janet E. Davies as Prince Seyf; Peter Wray and Michael Vaughan as Bilge and Bulge; Derek Davies as Chief Kalakau (who sings two excellent solos); and Alison B. Goodall and Judith A. Green as his daughter.

Adrienne Kinsey is the Fairy Coral; Sylvia Dugdale is Queen Miranda; and Les Cairns the Old Man of the Sea.

Dances were arranged and dancers trained by Mrs J. Lund. The orchestra is conducted by Mr E. Bearns.

                                                                                                                  H.T.

The following is a review from ‘Sinbad the Sailor’ January 1979

Show in the best panto tradition

‘Sinbad the Sailor,’ currently playing at Pontefract Assembly Room is the 30th annual production of St. Giles with St. Mary’s Pantomime Society. Carrying on the long tradition are a cast for the most part very young indeed, who are directed by Wendy Underwood and Joe Stafford.

As always it is a tale of confrontation between good in the attractive shape of Sandra Littleboy, the Fairy Coral and evil in the green paint of the Old Woman of the Sea played by Maureen Lodge.

Carol Stafford, who now has several years’ experience as principal boy, brings real glamour in the part of Sinbad. She has great confidence and presence and her voice is ideally complemented by Ida Milner’s as Princess Leyla.

Together they sail the seas on the good ship El-Kazaan with blue satin suited Captain Codd (Val Schofield) and two incompetent sailors, tall and lugubrious Cliff Thrall, as Bulge and round and chubby Maureen Webley as Bilge. Maureen Webley, in addition to her part, is the trainer and choreographer, together with Carol Stafford, of the meticulously rehearsed group of 14 very young juniors and the only slightly older dance group who have many routines and costume changes to make.

The robust Dame, is played by co-producer Joe Stafford, and the main comic relief falls to her dumb tea shop assistant Ali Aly, ably played by Brian Rose with Wendy Underwood, the Princess’s maid, as his female foil.

Wendy is now perhaps the most experienced and accomplished of the cast.

Barry Shipman and Bill Booth share honours for the ‘wicked squire’ part as the Khalif of Baghdad and his Grand Vizier. But the big laugh of the evening, with apologies to Swanlake, comes for the riotous dance of the Little Rocs. Five men all “bother booted” and dressed in amazing yellow chick outfits, spring from the giant egg broken by Sinbad to gain access to a cave of jewels which provides wealth to win the hand of the princess.

Musical director for the show who accompanied both on the piano and the organ, was Colin Birch, backed by a small but enthusiastic band of musicians..

The purpose of pantomime is to provide enjoyment and happiness both for the audience and the players and in this ‘Sinbad’ fully succeeds.

                                                                                              Pontefract and Castleford Express

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