Huge production team deliver good-hearted Robinson Crusoe panto

WHAT could possibly connect a Mexican mariachi band, backstabbing buccaneers and cackling cannibals? Wargrave’s pantomime, Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates, of course.

The plot may have been a bit of a surprise to fans of the 18th century Daniel Defoe novel, but it certainly ticked all the panto boxes at the Woodclyffe Hall in seven sold-out performances from January 22 to January 26.

Directors Linda Daman and Emmajane Hughes pulled out all the stops to deliver an entertaining, non-stop show.

The action kicked off in Old Mexico with the hard-working, all-singing, all-dancing chorus setting the scene with a riotous rendition of Ay, Yai, Yai, Yai complete with maracas and dropped trousers.

Captain Seasalt (Clive Dow) banned his daughter Juanita (Josie Daman, reprising the role of pretty and feisty principal girl) from joining him on his latest voyage. She had fallen for handsome young sailor Robinson Crusoe (Samantha Fields). The principal boy charmed the audience with her thigh-slapping good nature and then wowed them with her fine singing.

As well as the corny jokes, cheeky double-entendres and spraying the front row with water and flour, the panto celebrated the timeless battle of good versus evil with plenty of jeopardy for the young lovers.

Coral, the good spirit of the sea (a twinkling Anna James), vowed to save Crusoe from the clutches of the evil Davy Jones (Graham Howe, rattling the scenery with his full-on delivery). There’s nothing like the dame in a panto and Mike Watt had great fun flirting with the audience and cast alike as the larger than life Margarita Juicilita, alias Juicy Lucy.

Despite her awful cuisine, she was recruited as Captain Seasalt’s ship’s cook together with her none too bright son Nutty Nick (Kelly Doward, whose hilarious physical comedy delighted the children).

Pirates, under the command of Cut-Throat (Rachael Wood, relishing the boos and hisses from the audience), had kidnapped Juanita and were in hot pursuit of the missing part of a treasure map. Recruited as buccaneers were the dodgy duo Skull-Duggery (Graham Wheal) and Cross-Bones (Sara Beazley). With their silly props, awful puns and quick-fired repartee, they had the audience eating out of their hands.

It was lovely to see the return to the panto of Wargrave Youth Theatre, showcasing their singing and sword-fighting skills.

All seemed lost for our heroes when the pirates attacked their ship and they were cast into the deep. In a beautifully staged underwater scene, complete with mermaids, skeletons and glowing jellyfish, Crusoe seemed doomed to eternity in Davy Jones’s locker. Fairy godmother-style, Coral came to the rescue.

The rest of the crew found themselves on a desert island where they were captured by cannibals. Grace Tye as the cannibal queen Mumbo Jumbo and Ian Bacon as witch doctor Hocus Pocus held nothing back as they rolled their eyes, roared and stomped, terrorising the front rows.

Our heroes, cowering in a cooking pot, seemed certain to become the main course and dessert for the tribe. They were saved by Crusoe with the help of his new pals Friday (Kat Daman, keeping a straight face as a pedantic reformed cannibal) and Poll the parrot (Ann Pearce, squawking and flapping her wings).

The audience celebrated the happy ending with a competitive rendition of a sea shanty. The result, judged by musical director Peter Hughes, was a draw.

Music had powered the action of the panto, from Pirates of the Caribbean and Jaws to Hot Stuff and The Macarena, as well as showcasing the singing talents of the cast.

Praise to the costume, hair and make-up team who not only created the looks for the main roles but transformed the chorus (including Alan Fear, Sophie Hucker, Tanya Jessop, Alex Limia, Andy Luckwell, Lloyd Scrivener and Elizabeth Tawse) from Mexican peasants to sailors, undersea creatures and cannibals.

A huge production team ensured the panto was of such a high standard. Special shout-outs to stage manager Dave Robinson, Simon Calverley for lighting, Peter Knowles and Rod Murray for sound and Sheila Williams for set design.

Avast yes, me hearties, cast and crew ensured a great time was had by all.

Maria Marron