Directed by Anita Prior
Medstead's 'end-of-the-pier show' included Bill and Ben
The cabaret presented recently by the Medstead Players at the village hall called Twentieth Century Showcase was an exciting experiment that was kept alive by the vitality and energy that was put into it by the performers.
They wrote their own script, planned their own sketches and the choreography was by Debbie Whitham and Ann Penn.
It resembled an end-of-the-pier show - no scenery, no props, just a very enthusiastic team of performers, doing their own thing, and thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Tables and chairs had been set around the hall and customers took their refreshments as they watched the performances. This informal type of entertainment makes a pleasant change from 'who dunnits' and gives an opportunity for newcomers to take part and encourages audience participation.
The programme was phased into three eras of cabaret entertainment, beginning with the Good Old Days, with all the familiar choruses and an AI Jolson version of Sonny Boy.
An unusual variation on the Charleston was introduced by Phil Diment who broke his foot on the day of the dress rehearsal. Bravely, and in considerable pain, he lead his partner into the dance and manipulated his crutches in time with the music, thereby turning disaster into a personal triumph.
An amusing mime of an old silent film melodrama brought back memories of Saturday mornings spent in the sixpennies, by older members of the audience, who hissed the villain and cheered the lovely heroine as she made her virtuous way to the altar.
After the interval it was rock and roll time with a chorus of rockers swinging away in nostalgic frenzy. In a frantic duo with Stan Whitcher, Anita Prior was flung around with reckless abandon that delighted the audience.
In a cleverly executed sketch by Ron Whitcher and Pam Kercher, they revived many happy memories of Ron and Eth in the old BBC radio show 'Take it from here".
A hilarious TV sketch had Bill and Ben, the flowerpot men, with Andy Pandy and Weed involved in a drama of passion which was sabotaged by Looby Loo and finally converted into a state of alcoholic somnolence by Teddy with the whisky bottle.
The last stage was cabaret in the 80s, with teams from the Alton Dance Studio giving very colourful and energetic displays.
The teenagers then followed with dances of a much more athletic nature, performing cartwheels and somersaults.
The drama was brought up to date with a sketch involving Arthur Daley and J.R. in some unsavoury, blackmarket transaction.
The concert ended with all the performers gathering on the stage to sing popular choruses and encouraging the audience to join in.
The cabaret was well produced by Ann Penn, with lots of laughs, but the third act lacked the sparkle of the other two. Nancy and George Kaluza provided bright piano accompaniment for the singing and Penny Kercher filled in some of the intervals with light music as well as accompanying the silent movie appropriately.
N.C.
Cast:
Sara Cook, Phil Diment, John Gregory, Maggie Hillier, Pam Kercher, Penny Kercher, Ros Kercher, Vera Newman, Mike Overy, Dianne Nichols, Mathew Parratt, Ann Penn, Anita Prior, Marion Rogers, Karen Wakeman, Ron Whitcher, Stan Whitcher, Debbie Whitham, Lygia Winter and Alton Dance Studio.
Sara Cook, Maggie Hillier, Stan Whitcher, Dianne Nicholls, Mathew Paratt, Phil Diment, Vera Newman
Marion Rogers, John Gregory, ?, Mike Overy, Dianne Nichols, Maggie Hillier