High Noon at Creaky Bottom
Recently I took it upon myself to dress up as a woman, and sing Marylin Monroe songs on stage, whilst the audience shouted “He’s behind you !”
Oh no you didn’t !
Oh yes I did !
Pantomime, if I understand this correctly is something of a uniquely British phenomenon. Thus for international readers of my website the opening gambit is largely meaningless. For clarity, Panto is based on the premise that the actors dress as actresses and vice versa. Thus I scored the part of the Panto dame, one Miss Annie Oakhampton, with ExAct Pantomime
The back story to this fate accompli’ is in itself rather humorus, as I was drawn into the auditions on pretence ! My wife wanted my daughters to go for the auditions for the Pantomime, but was concerned that it would make them too nervous. So she asked me to go along and audition with them, as a form of support.
Laterly, I have begun to suspect that this was a ploy !
So that casting director, cast me into the lead role as Annie the dame. Not bad considering I have never done any acting, and I have only been to the Theatre twice in my life.
Of course as I am writing this, I am reflecting on a three month journey that as taken me from clueless idiot, to Monroe-esq stage diva ( aka clueless idiot, in a dress ). A chaotic journey of confusion and consternation. I have wrestled to learn lines, songs, acting, dancing and walking in high heels ( that I will never forget ). I have certainly been scarred for life, er I mean “enlightened”.
I have to say that in the run up to the first show, it was just hard slogin work, that frankly I felt like bailing out on many times. It was chaos, absolute chaos!
The Plot
Hi y’all and welcome to the 30th Exminster Pantomime
This year we’ve mosied on over to the Wild West with an original story but with all the elements you would expect of a traditional panto.
We have a Dame ( That’s me ), some romance, Dastardly Dark Stranger with evil plans and a sidekick. There’s slapstick, a chase, rivalry, ribaldry, ghosts, treasure, innuendo, a Mysterious Cowboy and even a horse!
Our story is set in the run-down town of Creaky Bottom as the railroad forges it’s way across America. The town committee - Annie Oakhampton, her old rodero friends Wild Bill Hiccup and his wife Jessie, together with Sheriff Dusty Rhodes are hoping the new railroad station will be built in their town instead of the more prosperous Kentonville but they need money to smarten the place up to stand a chance.
Along come an English stranger with a new invention that he promises will sniff out any gold left in the long-abandoned mine at High Kenn.
Is this the best news since Jessie’s latest batch of Creaky Bottom Special or is it just too good to be true? It’s all going to come to an explosive conclusion at High Noon!
The Action
What a great experience ! The opening night was so very exciting and I was really looking forward to it. My only concern was in regard to remembering my lines, and the lyrics to the songs, but everything came together. It’s strange how as I was delivering the part, I would have this sense that I wouldn’t know some of the lines ahead, and yet as soon as those lines arose they popped right into my head. I had put a lot of effort into recording the blocking segments during rehearsals and then playing those back through my head phones on a daily basis. So the lines an lyrics we engrained into my subconscious. Handy by my conscious mind has a “Buffer Full” sign on the door.
In all we delivered 4 night performances and one Saturday matinee. Hard work, but hugely rewarding and tonnes of fun.
For further information, and future shows checkout the Exminster Pantomine Facebook Page