Written by John Gardiner & Fiz Coleman, by arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.
Directed by Ann Penn
An evening of 'Wild West nonsense' at Medstead
Medstead village hall can never be the same after week's sensational conversion into a wild west saloon.
From the time the customers walked through the doors and were welcomed by pretty serving girls in saucy, frilly costumes and cowboy hats, to the time they were conducted to the tables set in Diamond Tooth Lil's saloon, the whole stage was set for a riotous evening of wild west nonsense back in the 1880's.
When the idea of this entertainment was first put forward, there was some opposition as it was so contrary to village hall tradition, but when the message got through and Ann Penn agreed to direct it, there was no looking back.
There were many problems. The majority of the cast was young people still at school and busily engaged in preparing for exams, so that the show was put back a few weeks, which co-incided with the Four Marks production. This clash has always been avoided, but it could not be helped on this occasion.
Instead of seating the audience in rows, tables were scattered round and serving girls came round with drinks and, informally chatted up the customers with rich American accents.
The stage was splendidly set up as a saloon, with crude wall hangings associated with the west and Penny Kercher rattled away all the time at the bar piano.
The play itself was just nonsense - it was advertised as an American style pantomime for the sake of giving it a name - but it was great entertainment.
Diamond Tooth Lil (Maggie Hillier) was the saloon owner, a tough, motherly rascal, whose front tooth held the loot from a past train robbery.
The audience had already met the helpers in the bar - Yippee Brown, a real live wire and just bubbling over with energy, and Angel Delight, 'stupid but nice'. Sara Cook has appeared in many of the shows at Medstead, but never like this delightful, baby-doll manhunter who created such havoc in this saloon.
Old Ma Treacle seemed slightly more responsible than the others. She was the cook, she was pleasant, she was witty and she stood no nonsense from her customers. Later she was the self appointed judge in the hilarious trial scene.
Stan Witcher - straight from performing in Twelfth Night - was Filthy Frank, the insanitary hobo, who could clear the saloon merely by making an entrance, but he had no effect on the wild bandit, No Nose Muldoon, who was protected by his disability.
Muldoon's partners in crime, Hairy Hannah and Dumbo Dawson, were as lively a pair of crooks as you could find in any panto. Then there was Rags the Dog, played by Bradley Prior and Mathew Parrett, a massive hound belonging to Frank. His well co-ordinated four legs could manage a little dance now and then, and his helpful barking was vital evidence in the trial scene. And over it all was the might and majesty of the law in the skeletal shape of Sheriff Ron Whitcher - Mr. Puniverse of USA, 1880.
But the plot was nothing. It was the general atmosphere of good humour and nonsense that made the show so different - and so successful. The silly little things - the dances, the delayed spit in the distant bucket, the Indian warriors, and so forth that kept everybody laughing.
The set and decor were excellent and the girls costumes made by Marion Rogers were a delight. The only backstage staff who/failed to pull her weight was Joan Allsop, the prompt, who did not have to say a word throughout the whole production.
Any fears that the organisers may have had as to the success of the venture were quite groundless. On the last two nights the hall was packed to capacity and all the other performances were well attended.
N.H.C.
Cast:
Diamond Tooth Lil - Maggie Hillier
Big Brad - Ron Whitcher
Angel Delight - Sara Cook
Yippee Brown - Kathy Whitcher
Old Ma Treacle - Katherine Reader
No Nose Muldoon - Phil Diment
Dumbo Dawson - Kerry Hover
Hairy Hannah - Dianne Nicholls
Filthy Frank Chisolm - Stan Whitcher
Jingles - Penny Kercher
Rags the Dog - Bradley Prior and Matthew Parratt
Serving Wenches/Chorus - Ros Kercher, Lygia Winter, Rachael Smith, Elise Emmence, Tara Pettitt, Tavi Winter, Nichola Cockram
