Director - Mike Cooke
The Cast
Robinson Crusoe - Megan Abbott
Polly Perkins - Kate Ayres
Mrs Perkins - Hugh Pearce
Billy Crusoe - Ian Anderson
Doris - Kristen Coucill
Fore - Peter Fiddling
Aft - Matt Kerslake
Captain Cutlass - Steve Brooks
Flotsam - Gemma Brooks
Jetsam - Debbie Hiles
Chief - Elaine Carpenter
George - Sam Lord
The Chorus
Amy Camp
Sandra Johnson
Jane Pearce
Steve Gregory
Chip Carpenter
Nick Cheatle
Irene Whitehouse
Allan Lord
Anna Richardson
Karen Girdwood
Pippa Lacey
Jackie Tuckwell
Monica Gregory
Simon Carpenter
William Johnson
Jimmy Hardwood
Sam Lord
Amy Kent
The Cast
Robinson Crusoe - Megan Abbott
Polly Perkins - Kate Ayres
Mrs Perkins - Hugh Pearce
Billy Crusoe - Ian Anderson
Doris - Kristen Coucill
Fore - Peter Fiddling
Aft - Matt Kerslake
Captain Cutlass - Steve Brooks
Flotsam - Gemma Brooks
Jetsam - Debbie Hiles
Chief - Elaine Carpenter
George - Sam Lord
The Chorus
Amy Camp
Sandra Johnson
Jane Pearce
Steve Gregory
Chip Carpenter
Nick Cheatle
Irene Whitehouse
Allan Lord
Anna Richardson
Karen Girdwood
Pippa Lacey
Jackie Tuckwell
Monica Gregory
Simon Carpenter
William Johnson
Jimmy Hardwood
Sam Lord
Amy Kent
Lynn News Review
"I noticed with interest that in his “Chairman’s review” Watlington Players’ supremo Matt Kerslake highlighted just some of the challenges with putting on a pantomime anywhere near Christmas. But somehow they had got it all together, and here I was again at Watlington Village Hall on Saturday for my second panto of the year, Robinson Crusoe. The Robinson Crusoe reference was extremely tenuous as this story followed very much the Treasure Island storyline. Robinson is the captain of a ship looking for treasure with fiancée Polly Perkins and sundry others in tow, including evil Captain Cutlass and his two henchmen intent on stealing the map and taking the ship. Much mayhem and hilarity ensue and guess what? It all ends happily in the end. There was so much about this production I liked, such as the bright and beautifully-painted scenery and the equally bright make-up and the lavish costumes. It was a visual treat and left you in no doubt that this was a premium product. The script was better than I am used to, leaving plenty of room for local references and ad libs which this cast took advantage off. The chorus contained all the usual suspects who were universally excellent. As lead dancers Amy Kent, Amy Camp and Jane Pearce brightened up the stage and there were strong supporting performances from Elaine Carpenter as the Chief, and Gemma Brooks and Debbie Hiles as the two henchmen Flotsam and Jetsam. There was also a nice cameo by Sam Lord as George the Gorilla. Kate Ayres was enchanting as leading lady Polly Perkins and her opening song was so moving, it left me in a pile of mush. Megan Abbott took the title role and you would struggle to find a better-looking principal boy. She was every inch the lead and strutted about with admirable authority. Steve Brooks did an excellent job as Captain Cutlass. He was dark and brooding and his growl never failed to get a reaction from the enthusiastic capacity audience. I was particularly impressed with Kristen Coucill as secondary love interest Doris. She had a lovely comic touch. Hugh Pearce was fantastic as the pantomime Dame in his suitably saucy portrayal or Mrs Perkins. Ian Anderson was wonderful as intellectually-challenged brother Billy Crusoe while the main comic duo were Fore and Aft, played to perfection by Peter Fiddling and Matthew Kerslake. The banana-eating scene can only be described as a riot! My only minor criticisms of this excellent production would be the over long first half and an awareness that on a couple of occasions the pace seemed to drop, causing the show to drag for a while, but these were not great hardships. My warmest congratulations to Mike Cooke on a brilliant production and to Penny Cooke for choreography of an equal standard. Musical director Kate Mould and her team produced a wonderful sound from the pit."
Stephen Hayter
16th January 2009
Stephen Hayter
16th January 2009