| Company of Forty-four Lighting Up January |
Aberystwyth Pantomime |
| The Wardens Company- Dick Whittington and the Pi-rats of the Caribbean , Aberystwyth Arts Centre , January 24, 2025 |
The news of recent times from the arts of Wales is, to put it kindly, not cheering. But, for the theatre-goers of Ceredigion, January remains a month for the greatest of cheers. The Wardens Company faces as many challenges as any arts company. The rise in costs are there and cannot be met with a rise in capacity. Theatr y Werin is the size it is, indeed a very good size. To mount a show that blends professionals and many from the community over seventeen days is an accomplishment. Audience demand is good but getting more shows on is not an option. Meanwhile the company even does its swirling stuff at eleven in the morning on a weekend. And the season has its perils. Behind the scenes late moment changes were made necessary. Nathan Guy, a former Aberystwyth student, made a return at short notice to play a swaggering King Rat of exuberant stinkiness. And, of course, for all the backstage drama it was all wholly invisible to an audience who got their expected show of polish, music, movement, allied to a dose of inspired whackiness. Alex Neil is a strong-voiced, confident Dick Whittington. He does become Lord Mayor of London, but in the first act and in an opulent dream sequence. The second act sees a second plot, a voyage to Borthbados in the Caribbean and a quest for Captain Kidd's treasure. The treasure is guarded by a fierce dinosaur who turns out to be a chatty and harmless Dai-nosaur. The voyage permits a sinking and a descent to the ocean bed. Cue an array of dancing fish who sing the “Baby Shark Song.” Jim Vale takes credit for the making of the models who jiggle in fluorescent lighting against a black backcloth. The art of pantomime is a fine balance. To stick by the conventions is necessary but to incorporate enough refreshment keeps it vital and of the day. At a linguistic level words like “kisser” remain but then “skibidi” gets in. Some of the language would not get an airing elsewhere. “I'm Sarah Bun, and I weigh a ton,” It is a first time that a song gets to rhyme “mallarkey” with “Penparcau.” A year ago a tongue twister used the letter “s”. This year "Aldi" starts his shopping list with a “a tin of toffee and a tin of tuna.” By the time he has finished the number of words that begin with “t” run to the dozens. They are done with gusto and aplomb by Richard Cheshire. Jokes are not over-done. Alderman “Aldi” Fitzwarren- an evergreen Ioan Guile- wonders why Sarah's cakes retail at £1 but that one costs £5. The answer is an obvious one “that's Madeira cake.” As for action Julie McNicholls Vale and Bob McIntyre as Stinky and Pooey wield their water pistols with relish and without favour or mercy. Down in the kitchen ten-inch-wide cream pies are prepared with inevitable purpose. The rat horde is beaten back by a barrage of sponges thrown at them by the audience. The Wardens began some years ago to play with meta-theatre. A treasure map is in a bag. The bag has been “forgotten.” Cue a youngster with a bag. “I found this on the props table.” “Who are you?” “I'm villager number three. I used be villager number six but you promoted me.” “Play your cards right and you might be villager number one.” “Can I be a principal next year?” “Get out of it.” But there is a new principal for 2025. Miriam Llwyd received her first credit on this site in the summer of 2019. But her presence on the Aber stage goes back, a first appearance at age four. Her Tommy is a winner. The role calls for feline slinkiness which she blends with warmth, facial expressiveness of range, and dancing not just of grace but of a seeming lightness. Early on she swaps her dancing shoes for some impressive tap dance. The roster of talent incubated at Aberystwyth Arts Centre over the years who have been propelled to the professional stage is without equal. Miriam Llwyd looks set to join that illustrious roll-call. Offstage the Wardens have the great advantage of a team that has worked together for show after show. Lorna Lowe and Carl Ryan have choreographed dancing of sharp and confident quality. The dance company for 2025 is Alisha Aydogmus, Lilly Clement, Jessica Evans, Nansi Fychan, Tia Griffiths, Erin Hesden-Kenny, Honey Hiatt, Tia Lowe, Alaw Medi Beechey, Deri Rhodes . In the pit Elinor Powell nimbly conducts a tight band. Nearly all have worked together before. Louise Amery on piano, Llew Evans on lead guitar, Tim Williams on bass guitar and Harvey Hassan on trumpet were all there in January 2024. Alex Shad has joined as drummer. “Dick Whittington and the Pi-rats of the Caribbean” has several big numbers. Lionel Bart's “Consider Yourself” is one of the big ones. A company of forty-four on stage in full voice, colour and movement is not a common sight and one to relish. As a last offstage credit directors are not usually noted. But it takes a lot to get a show like this pulsating over seventeen days. The Wardens is impelled by its tradition, its adherence to an indigenous form of theatre, but also its commitment to the young. That is spread equally across those on the stage and in the auditorium. Julie McNicholls Vale as Chair steers the company with directors Sonia Dobson, Stephen Griffiths, Helena Jones, Theresa Jones, Bob McIntyre, Alex Neil and Jim Vale A guide to the Aberystwyth pantomimes can be read in the link below. |
Reviewed by: Adam Somerset |
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