From Page to Performance – A Pantomime Delight
Wednesday evening at Ayr Writers’ Club was transformed into a lively pantomime affair. I can almost hear the chorus of voices chiming back at me, ‘Oh no, it wasn’t.’
In groups of four, we were divided into three teams, armed with incredible props. Together with our panto comrades, we conspired to craft not one, not two, but three five-star productions that could rival Oscar worthy masterpieces.
It was an absolute blast being immersed in such a jovial atmosphere. The air buzzed with an infectious energy fuelling each group, igniting a rapid exchange of ideas that flowed. All were so engrossed that it took some convincing to stop for a quick ten-minute break when the tea arrived.
We hastily rehearsed within our groups until the moment came to showcase our efforts. My team found ourselves up first, diving into our performance armed with our makeshift signs, and breakaway biscuits. In our rendition of ‘Hansel and Gretel,’ we took a twist of having the duo skip school, share a bottle of Buckfast, and stumble upon a McDonalds in the eerie woods. Surprisingly the witch didn’t need a cage, having a television and two PlayStation remotes to entertain the children while she prepared her dinner. Fortunately, the pantomime Dame, cast as the fast-food chain’s cleaner, swooped in just in time to rescue Hansel and Gretel from their predicament, placing the witch in the chair with the remote-control playing Tour of Duty while all made their escape.
Following that, we delved into the enchanting tale of Cinderella. It was a pivotal moment and a comical turn when the fairy godmother faced a horror of her own. Her magic wand had run out of battery power. Without the means to transform the pumpkin into the desired carriage for Cinderella’s ball journey, chaos ensued. As fate would have it, Dial-a-Bus swooped in as an unexpected saviour, providing transport, far from the kind one would envision for a princess. But the ordeal didn’t end there – the poor fairy godmother found herself in another pickle as she got stuck in the doors of the bus.
Wrapping up our performances, the last group took to the stage to give a wonderful account of Jackeline and the Beanstalk. Jackeline, facing a challenging task, had to escort her perpetually grumpy cow to the market, hoping to sell it for some cryptocurrency. Instead of receiving the expected payment, Jackeline ends up with magic beans. To her surprise, after consuming a few, she discovers an extraordinary singing talent. On climbing the beanstalk, she finds herself as a contestant on the X-Factor where she comes face-to-face with Simone Cowal. (Definitely Simone, not Simon – I’m smiling as I type).
Apologies to all if I overlooked any tropes in their storylines, but the evening was so enjoyable that my notetaking was a bit sporadic amidst all the fun and laughter. It was great to see each of the three groups incorporate the recommended advice – having comedy elements, audience participation, gender role reversals and exaggerated, silly actions and expressions.
Who knows, an Ayr Writers’ Club Oscar evening might be on the horizon. As for my vote for best actress, it’s already in, and that honour goes to none other than the grumpy cow.
Susan McVey
