Review: Baslow Players’ panto 3 Little Pigs CSI

Baslow Players are in the fortunate position of having a crack writing duo Zoe Wareham and Robin Proudfoot who pen panto scripts especially for the company.

This means that every production is box-fresh, incorporating ingenious ideas, new names and speciality songs to keep young and old engaged and entertained.

Take 3 Little Pigs CSI, this week’s offering which is directed by Peter Skinner. Without being a killjoy and giving the game away , it turns the children\s story on its head by retracing the tale of Wolfie and the squealing swine, Pinky, Perky and Porkie, who take the hairy one tocourt for demolishing their homes.

Wolfie’s fate is decided by which side of the audience sings the loudest, Top Dog (sung to the tune of Top Cat) and Hit The Road Wolf battling it out for justice.

Wolfie, aka Kate Stuart, makes an impassioned plea through a knockout rock ‘n’ roll solo which is accompanied by a chorus of backing singers, including Wolfie’s knitting mum Patience who is played by Jackie White.

It’s great to see youngsters being able to air their talents in large roles instead of being tucked away in the chorus. Grace Baker, 9, Penelope Stuart 10 and Emily Watson, 15, playing Pinky, Perky and Porkie are a credit to the cast, their lengthy speeches presented confidently and clearly. Equally praiseworthy is Saskia Stuart, 7, the only cast member who truly merits the first word in her character’s name, Little Jack Horner.

This is a show which begs, borrows ad steals personalities from other fairy stories and nursery rhymes. Little Red Riding Hood gives rather tall adult Ashley Sharman licence to milk the laughs as the panto dame, Pruella D’Ville is a jackbooted, moneygrabbing prosecution lawyer who is played in sparkling form by Angela Robinson while the Fairy Godmother, in the capable hands of Sally Myatt, loves horseracing and puts across a good case for the defence. Little Blue Boy is in the safe hands of Mary Russell and Little Miss Muffet is a court clerk, one of three roles played by Imogen Dowding.

Zoe Wareham is the officious judge Havey Gavelbanger who likes port and canapés. And the snack-selling Trolly Dollies, aka Nick Bailey and Stuart Gillis, keep the audience refreshed and entertained throughout the interval as a warm-up for their signature spot in the second half.

The eyecatching sets are as fresh and colourful as the script and include a hospital ward, where Wolfie is confined to bed, and Baslow orchard, where the pigs reside.

This panto will make you as happy as a pig in clover. Catch it at Baslow Village Hall until Saturday, February 8, 2014.

GAY BOLTON