26-28 November and 2-5 December Aula du Collège de Saussure, Grand Lancy
Producers: Pam & Richard Walsh Musical Director: Alan Robbins Chief Choreographer: Karen Perrenoud
TSUNAMI RELIEF: No mutiny on the Bounty!!!
Last December, many GAOS members, principally from the cast and crew of the pantomime, "Sleeping Beauty", gave very generously in support of Martin Shaw's sponsored run in the Escalade, which was dedicated to raising funds for Friends of India, whose founder/director, Pam Walsh, was also co-producer of the panto.
Along with donations from elsewhere, the sum of 3,500 CHF was raised and this has been used buy three new fishing boats for villagers in Kovalam, which was devastated by the tsunami that struck the Indian Ocean region on Boxing Day. Because of the close links with the panto, it has been decided to name these boats Smartie, Wispa and Bounty, after the three fairies in Sleeping Beauty, who with a wave of a wand, were able to make wishes come true.
The photos show a very proud Pam Walsh and some extremely grateful villagers on the day in February when the boats were named and handed over. The new boats look quite magnificent and many thanks to all those who donated to the cause.
" Refreshes the parts other pantomimes just cannot reach "
" A sell out… a fast-moving show crammed full of humour "
" A modern pantomime with a number of unusual features including a seaside scene and three fairy godmothers "
" First class entertainment. A show with everything… spectacle, humour and audience participation "
This is a traditional and very funny pantomime.
Sleeping Beauty Cast
King Rumbletum
Julian Finn
Queen Gigglebelly
Di Klein
Princess Beauty
Philippa Hobbs
Nurse P. Pinchme
Martin Jennings
Oddjob
Barrie Duggan
Bounty
Sue Lake
Smartie
Jenna Melling
Wispa
Philippa Hulme
Olga Pong
Penny Morris
Gormless
Len Everett
Prince Handsome
Lisa Lulis Wingard
Squint
Peter Barnett
Cuddles, the Panda
Idan Bail
Chorus Members
Kathrin Baetschmann, Christine Bassanini, Robyn Bell-Scott, Danny Benjamin, Helen Beveridge, Jérôme Colonna de Lega, Janice Cook Robbins, Chrissie Dillon, Sophie Gamand, Jenny Gamble, Ania Grobicki, Philip Jacquet-Francillon, Edwina Jarrell, Kirstie Jeavons, Lisa Kerrigan, Sophie King, Daniela Kober, Caroline Nassif, Luca Pittet, Pam Scott, Peter Scott, Sue Sell, Mick Storr, Stanley Taylor, Maureen Wittig-Judge, Erik Zoeteweij
Production Team
Producers
Pam & Richard Walsh
Musical Director
Alan Robbins
Construction & Stage Manager
Rodney Gill
Choreographers
Karen Perrenoud Diana Ratcliff Annette Schutt
Lighting
Robert Boyle
Sound
Serge Huber
Props
Jill Bolingbroke
Costumes
Margaret de Marchi
Sound Effects
Amy Vowles
Description of Characters
King Rumbletum (King of Bowrainia) is a glutton and is so fat that his stomach is constantly getting in his, and other people's way. He is a doting father and a hen-pecked husband.
Queen Gigglebelly (Queen of Bowrainia) finds everything amusing and breaks into infectious laughter at the most inappropriate moments. She “wears the pants” and takes great delight in nagging her husband.
Princess Beauty ( their daughter- principal girl) should not be played as a sickly-sweet heroine: at the beginning she is a bit of a spoilt brat and is self-centred rather than soft-centred . But she also possesses the sterling qualities of kindness and bravery which come to the fore by the end, making her genuinely likeable.
Nurse Penelope Pinchme ( the royal nurse – dame) is coarse, bossy and used to getting her own way. Everyone except Oddjob is in awe of her. She has a lot of comedy including some funny cures that only the audience find amusing.
Cuddles (Beauty's panda – non-speaking part) is fearless and gentle… and lives up to his name! This is a non-speaking but important role. He appears throughout the pantomime and is involved in a lot of the action. Some skill in the art of mime is therefore required.
Oddjob (a handyman) should be warm, endearing and totally sympathetic. His most important function is to provide a link with the audience. He has a soft spot for Beauty but is cheeky to all the other characters, making the audience laugh at their expense.
Bounty (1 st fairygodmother) is a sensible and motherly Fairygodmother. She is a bit forgetful and is often in a muddle. Although she frequently has cause to reprimand Smartie, she should do so kindly.
Smartie (2 nd fairygodmother) is a mischievous, cheeky Fairygodmother. She is a tearaway and it is only Bounty's vigilance that keeps her in check. She bosses and teases Wispa whenever possible but she isn't spiteful and should be likeable.
Wispa (3 rd fairygodmother) is a shy, clumsy Fairygodmother. She is a “shrinking violet” and is frightened of everything… especially the audience and Olga Pong. She is gullible and is often the victim of Smartie's pranks.
Olga Pong (a witch) is a real stinker and finds wickedness a constant source of delight. She should be played humorously but with enough venom to make the audience hate her.
Gormless (her son) is green, gawky and monstrously stupid. Slow in movement and on the uptake, he is too idiotic to be genuinely evil.
Prince Handsome (a prince – principal boy). Though rather impatient with Squint's ineptitude and careless of Oddjob's feelings, he is nevertheless kind hearted… he would be mortified if he knew he had caused offence. He is Beauty's brave and devoted suitor…after all, his love does endure for 100 years!
Squint (his valet) wears very thick spectacles and is extremely short-sighted. His blunders are a constant source of embarrassment to others and fun for the audience. He is self-assured and blissfully unaware of his own short-comings. Can be old or young.
