Silchester Players

Silchester Players' fine presentation of Cinderella exemplified all that is meant by slap-stick.  The children — and the adults — lapped it all up with great fervour at all the six performances with every seat taken at the Village Hall.  This is the success story I dropped in on and it gave a great fillip to the joint producers Janet and Brian Hope making their debut in a directing capacity.  The company's only regret was that more performances were not arranged, for many people were turned away.

Jack F. Hilton's script was superb with very rich humour.  To put it all over there were two very ugly but nevertheless highly competent Ugly Sisters in Janice How and Janet Taylor as Hygenia and Penelope Hardup.  Allen Betts also made first-class use of his lines as Buttons with Keith Graham always strictly in character as Baron Hardup.  With the Ugly Sisters they formed a real backbone to the production.

The very experienced Pat Brown made a good Cinderella, a part she played with simplicity and in great contrast to the dash and splendour of Prince Charming and Dandini portrayed by Barbara Fairbrother and Glenise Masters.  To perform her miracles and to ensure a happy ending, Joyce Amoss did all that was necessary as the Fairy Godmother.

The chorus got through their movements effectively — it was hard to believe that rehearsals had only begun in November.  It included junior members, with some of the youngsters performing an attractive dance.  The continuity was excellent, the ten scenes being supplemented with much in front of the curtain activity which proved a most entertaining diversion, such as the Screaming Girl and a peep into a dentist's surgery with laughing and hysterical gas used as an anaesthetic.

One of the most exciting moments came with a number from the music of Viva Mexico, which started an imaginary flea hunt on stage and among the audience.  The sets were both attractive and practical and I particularly liked the simple way used to show Cinderella's departure in her magnificent coach.

Pianist Stephen Oliver had the responsibility of keeping the harmony flowing.  The programme listed many people who had contributed in providing Silchester with its own pantomime.  It was a real communal effort and showed what can be achieved by enthusiasm and hard work.

"Too many cooks spoil the broth," so it is said, but in Ronald Millar's amusing comedy They Don't grow on Trees there are no cooks at all.  Without one, all is lost, especially when the wife cannot even toast a piece of bread without serving it up black.

Silchester Players really get to grips with this entertaining piece of nonsense and make the most of the opportunities for character acting.

Producer Les Masters chose his cast thoughtfully, with Bryony Paton as the hopeless Ruth Lennox, a TV career girl endowed with a special gift that enables her to act and scream hysterically.

All goes well in the Lennox home until the cook, Jessie MacFarlane leaves to get married, Joyce Amoss is quite a realistic Scot.  As the play develops Ruth's husband Michael is reduced to a state of desperation and near starvation.  Collin Goddard plays the part ravenously.

The plot centres round the many applicants who apply for the post of cook, with Rupert Anstruther having a great time as the agent.  Allen Betts brings a touch of real light-hearted humour to the part.

Marilyn Fowler scores a success as Mrs Dawkins, the cleaner, Pat Brown as Brigid O'Cooney does a real impressive Irish act with a most convincing brogue and there are the comings and goings of dumb Milcuzki (Barry Kearney).

The real character of the piece, however, who wreaks havoc in the Lennox household is Mrs Van Boven, an uncompromising masculine woman who is the most unlikely candidate for the cook's job.

Full marks to Pamela Mansfield for her acting.  She certainly infects Roger Lennox's studio flat in more than one way.

Wendy Roper, together with her baby, makes a fine au pair, there is an eccentric contribution by Janet Taylor as the mad Miss Minter, and the dark horse among all the applicants is Mary Thornton well portrayed by Glenise Masters.

The whole plot changes after the interval when there was a different problem, not how to obtain a cook but how to get rid of one who had turned the flat into a disorderly house.

This is where the playwright shows his ingenuity with situations created to make the most innocent look guilty in the eyes of the law and what a story for the press — a TV personality keeping a brothel!

It was all very well done with hardly any lapse in continuity.  It was a comedy allowing for a large cast, those also taking part include Kevin Geary, Tim Oliver, Robin Masefield, Bob Brown, Kate Davidson and Janice How.  There is also a loveable dog in Brutus trained and loaned by Robin Thornycroft.

Quite an ambitious production for a small company using a small stage.  It can be seen today and tomorrow.