One of the
problems of running a first time pantomime in a first time venue for the first
time is that there are teething problems right from the start. Not only are you
competing with the established heavyweight pantomimes in the area, but you have
to get the word out that you are there, and running, and that you are a bona fide
contender for the Public’s money. The
other pantomimes generally have well seasoned and reasoned modes of marketing
and financing and attract big stars and sponsors with success.
As a first timer, you literally have to prove
yourself every step of the way. And thus
it is that the cast and crew of Dick Whittington have had to work extra hard to
ensure that not only the people of Fleet, but also the surrounding areas, are
fully aware that there is another Panto in town. And because all those in the
Panto Know, Panto Show groups are keeping a close eye on everything the New Kid
on the Block does, the rehearsal schedule at Fleet has ramped up a bit and everyone
has to be that super bit better and slicker than anyone else.
Little Man
and his juvenile cast have, for the past week and a half, been involved in
evening rehearsals after school. These
generally run for 3 hours, and on top of a school day and all that that entails
at this time of year, it has been quite a feat.
But they seem to thrive on it. The
mummies on the other hand are getting more Stressed Looking each evening as
they battle through the Christmas traffic, try and find a car parking space,
pay for a car parking ticket (I swear the wardens wait outside The Harlington just
to catch those dropping their kids off) and rush their kids in to rehearsals,
whilst simultaneously divesting their little divas of school bags, blazers,
ties – in short, anything that would get lost and cause chaos on the school run
the next morning. The lady at Reception
at Little Man’s school has become adept at grabbing him from class. I have become adept at whipping up sandwiches
in Ready Steady Cook style from leftovers in the fridge (yesterday he had a
cold croissant with cream cheese and salami – I told him it was a
French-Italian dish called a Fromali) and my other boys have become adept at Eggy
Bread until I get in and make a Hot Fromali, or some such other tempting dish… And it is not only the kids, but the stars who
have put in the hours. Working long
days, they come in the main from London, arriving early in the morning and
staying until the end of rehearsals in the evening. In between hours of plotting moves (‘blocking’)
and trying out lines, they manage to fit in personal appearances at functions
as diverse as an under-teen disco to an NCT meeting with young mums and babies,
and Amanda, as Fairy BowBells has become as ubiquitous as the Tooth Fairy.
But that
has not been enough. Without the backing
of the people of Fleet, the Pantomime would have struggled. But Fleet seems to like the purple bill board
grinning down at them. They seem to like
the fact that the stars nip down to the local sandwich shop during lunch
breaks, and they are positively warm to the fact that many of their youngsters
are featuring (often for the first time) so heavily in the show. The local traders of Fleet have given out
flyers, put up posters and joined in with gusto in the latest campaign run on
social media by a very savvy marketing department featuring Jeremy Edwards in a
series of ‘Where’s Jeremy?’ poses in
town. They are fully behind the panto – knowing that with it, the business will
pick up in town and unlike the out- of- town shows, the restaurants and bars
will flourish with theatre goers. Even the privately owned shopping mall in
Fleet, which traditionally advertises another pantomime in Aldershot, is hedging
its bets on the success of our pantomime and displaying Fleets banner as well –
so rather strangely on coming in you will be urged to see one show, and going out you will see the other!
The set is
being built, and the costumes have nearly all been made –at the end of one
rehearsal I came in early and saw a production line of rats noses, yards and
yards of blue velveteen and one mum (who is not known for her crafting talents)
proudly displayed a box full of pairs of little gold bells that she had put
together. I enquired what they were and
she answered cheerfully ‘No idea…but do you like them?’ The songs have been sung and the scripts have
been learned and now it’s putting actions to words.
Little Man
came back last night and said that he had done a scene with Jeremy
Edwards.
‘What did
you have to do?’ I asked, trying to stop sounding impressed.
‘I had to
fight him for a chicken’ he answered nonchalantly, tucking into a hot Fromali
sans cheese or salami (ok, a croissant then…)
‘Why?’
‘It’s a
secret’
‘Oh No its
Not’ I said, ‘I’m your mum’
‘Oh Yes It
Is!’ he replied with a wink and skipped out of the room.
And we
haven’t even started the show yet…
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