Silchester Players

The pantomime Robinson Crusoe, currently playing at Silchester Village Hall, has many commendable points, especially the ingenious effects and scenery.  Absolutely outstanding is the underwater scene after the foundering in a storm of Captain Atkins' ship.

With the help of ultra violet lighting, the bed of the ocean is crammed full with marine life, including eels and tropical fish.  They wriggle and swim around most realistically to make an incredible scene for a village panto.

Further imagination is evident when the luxury cruise liner sails in from the wings with smoke curling from its single funnel.

On the opening night the effects were a little too real with the "firing of an old cannon", some of the burning fragments from the pyrotechnic cascaded down into the hall.

The performers are the Silchester Players with the cast gleaned from the village and surrounding areas.  Director is Alf Campsie, who contributes two parts, in addition, he is a very sea-scarred Davy Jones and a frightening gorilla.

Mac Flemington makes a good captain and Christopher Street an amusing Mrs Crusoe.  Shelagh Brinkman is Robinson Crusoe, with several songs to sing.  Easily her best effort is I Have a Dream.  I did feel however, that the best singing comes from the chorus.

Vaness Price is Jill Potts; Les Masters, Billy Crusoe and Marilyn Fowler is Phil Potts.  I very miuch liked the contribution made by John Goodger as Man Friday.

There are some good dancers and praise must be given to the children who have come forward to add their own particular zest.

It is all very well directed, but what I did find irksome and interrupting the continuity is to have folk singers with guitars, performing between acts.  They are excellent, with John Holmes in particular singing a fantastic tongue-twister.  But it prolongs the show unnecessarily, stretching the entertainment out for three hours, with an 11pm finish — too late for a pint at the local.