Coll Pantomime 1991

One of the highlights of the festive season, once again, was the annual pantomime performed at the Christmas Party.

The Coll Players were assembled from all parts to delight a 'captive' audience with wit, pathos and melodrama by performing a version of 'Oliver Twist' by Charles Dickens.

The story was adapted by your correspondent and abused by the cast!

As to the cast, what can I say? The acting was up to the standard expected by now by the people of Coll and they weren't disappointed!

Young Alan Brodie again took the leading role, this year playing Oliver, and as usual left the ladies in the audience wanting to mother him, such was his pathetic portayal of poor orphan Oliver.

John Porrelli played, as only he knows how, the character of Fag-End (Fagin) an important role in the production which required extensive research and learning of lines.

The comic genius that is Sir John English played the part of the evil Bill Sykes with such a mixture of comedy and brutality that he has been approached by a certain Glasgow Football T eam to act as Public Relations representative.

His dog was played by Ali Anderson who is corresponding with the R.S.P.C.A. with a view to suing his master for cruelty.

Mr P. Smalley again shone as a natural actor of the old school. This year he was required to play two parts: that of Mr. Bumble and a Policewoman! He brought to acting what Foot and Mouth disease did for the Agricultural Industry!

Jo Davies was popular as Mrs. Bumble although a tendancy to live her part during the final weeks before the performance did not go down well in the shop when people asked for "more" of anything!

It was a delight to see the "young" people of Coll being involved playing the orphan boys and Fag-End's gang. Deryck Stove, Ron Davies and Ken Jones engendered great sympathy from the audience and also a littlepuzzlement as to all the beards on supposedly ten year old boys!

A word for our unsung narrator, Lavinia Bristol did a remarkable job of waking up the majority of the audience between scenes!

But seriously, a wonderful job of painting the backdrop was done by Mairi Hedderwick and Barbara Payne, once again. We are fortunate to have such talented artists amid our mongst.

The Pantomime was performed again on Hogmanay for the people who thought they had escaped it the first time round.

Finally, the Pantomime was voted a huge success by a few people and I look forward to next year with a mixture of doom and despondency!

Mike Taylor: Director

(by kind permission of:
"The Men in White Coats.")