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The Legend Of King Arthur
Wincanton Amateur Dramatic Society
I have never watch a production by Wincanton Amateur Dramatic Society (WADS) nor visited Wincanton for that matter so I was looking forward to my journey along the A303.
What an amazing Memorial Hall to put on this production. I have never watched King Arthur as a pantomime before so was intrigued to see how this was going to be performed.
A knight greeted me in the foyer and I could already see a fire eating dragon on your front cloth before even entering the hall. I knew I was going to be in for some middle age entertainment.
The cleverly script written by Kate Kirkpatrick included many pantomime ingredients and some arousing up beat numbers.
I appreciate that directing any show is a huge responsibility and it is important to note Kate and Jack that your stage direction was of an enviable standard. The show was a skilful interpretation of the script with many contemporary allusions. I felt tighter script editing was required in places though as the show over ran by a good thirty minutes.
This was most certainly a resplendent piece of theatre. All principals and chorus held the show together with panache and all movements indicated total confidence.
The casting of any pantomime can present challenges but I sense you had the balance spot-on. I enjoyed the comedy antics from Sir Laughalot (Alex Parsons) and Dame Hattie Hardup (Adam Ebbage). Queen Morgana (Christina Benson) was a really nasty villain who was booed without encouragement from the start. You gave us all a well defined character Christina, played with precision – and an excellent singing voice too. Chain and Link (Flynn Haines and Codi Benson) were perfectly paired showing maturity beyond their years.
All sets looked professionally medieval and added to the appeal of the production. I especially enjoyed ‘The Synchronised Swim’ – this was very funny. The appearance of the dragon in the UV was most memorable.
Music is the gel that keeps a pantomime together and yet again Jordan’s talents proved this. There were certainly some excellent numbers which made the show what it was.
This was without doubt a pantomime with a difference. There were perhaps a few too many sword fights and deaths for my liking and I just wondered if this was appropriate for the younger members of the audience bearing in mind that pantomime is aimed primarily at children. Nonetheless this was a terrific production and you are all to be congratulated.
Nigel Ford.
Moderator SFD.