It’s Murder I Can Tell You!

Well what a week!! It was non stop from start to finish and an extremely hectic and blood filled weekend!!

On Friday I was doing a murder mystery on the Orient Express. We had to be at Birmingham International at 9.30 for a rehearsal and then the train left at 11.00 but I could not tell you where we went although I do remember passing through Hereford at one point. The plot was set in the 1920’s and I played a very dodgy and smarmy barrister which ended up with me being stabbed. The only problem being I had to ‘die’ through 8 carriages. It was certainly the ‘longest death’ ever. The on Saturday we were back to the 1970’s for the Murderology Murder Mystery Stayin’ Alive. I would like to say a big thank you to my cast of volunteers who gave their time freely so that we could raise funds for this years panto.

They say it's not guns that kill people. It's people that kill people. Well try pointing your fingers at someone and shouting BANG… believe me it’s not effective!

So a big thank you to:

Tom Davis

Tessa Kendrick-Brown

Audrey Pointer

Henry Walker

Dave Hardman

And last but not least to Donna Wilmshurst from Murderology for use of the plot and also her time and expertise.

Hopefully we have made enough for me to have at least fifteen costumes changes in this year’s panto! I must also say a big thank you to Bobbie Parrish for being such a good sport (even if she did use some Anglo Saxon sign language towards me) and a fabulous scream upon discovering the dead body!!!!

Well last night we were back in the hall for rehearsal and the laughter was ringing out at all the ‘Dick’ jokes. I had forgotten quite how many we had written. Steve and his team of artists were busy painting the fabulous looking backcloths and the Ratettes are starting to get meaner, Tom ‘Get outta my pub’ Davis is really getting into the swing of KR and Lisa even looks like a rat (Oops did I say that out loud?). However all is not fun and games as this weekend sees the return of Strictly. No I am not talking about the TV show but Sunday’s rehearsal with ‘Strictly’ Higgins. Liam is already going into meltdown and we haven’t even started yet but don’t worry ‘cos if anyone struggles with the dance moves I will help, you only have to ask.

Right I am off now because Matron says that if I don’t keep my bed tidier, she and I are going to fall out!

It Was (Double) Murder Last Night!

A double murder took place in the village hall last night, courtesy of ‘Murderology’. A big thank you to the cast and all those who helped to stage the event, the grand opening of the new nightclub ‘Fever’. Monies raised will go towards this year’s production of Dick Whittington. Thanks to everyone who came and helped to make the evening a very enjoyable one.

Murder Mystery Night

There is a murder mystery night in the village hall tonight in aid of panto funds. A few tickets remain, priced £12.50, at the Ebor Inn. 19.30 start.

Being thick is the future

There is something oddly therapeutic about playing the village idiot in a pantomime.

It can be a bit tricky to be sensible and professional – not to mention acting as if you’re intelligent – five days a week when your natural instincts are to make childish jokes and pull silly faces. I’m sure my colleagues would tell you I do this anyway and that my ‘idiot’ persona is indistinguishable from how I am every other day…

… but what I suppose I’m trying to say is that the panto is a refuge from being serious. In fact, the dafter the better. It’s what we’re there for – cast and audience alike! Very liberating, you know.

The highlight of last night’s rehearsal, though, was hearing some of the principals trying out their songs for this year’s show – not least Tom and Lisa rocking their way through Rat Out Of Hell and Jeni and Bobbie’s stunning rendition of Don’t Stop Believin’.

Our panto will be running as the X Factor nears its grand final, but Cowell and friends are wasting their time. The real talent is here in Bishopthorpe!

Dames Blog Startdate 21092010

These damned rats get everywhere!!!

Well I’m back after missing Sunday it was back to rehearsal and what a week it is… I was at Crewe on Sunday helping my daughter (and other people’s daughters too) move into her house for the final year at Uni. Typically it was a real mess and needed some serious sorting, so I was back there again on Monday night and will be back again on Sunday grr, so yet again I will miss a Sunday with ‘Strictly’ Higgins. No doubt Liam ‘I got Rhythm’ Godfrey will fill me in. I am then at another rehearsal tonight and on Friday I am off on the Orient Express to commit murder (actually I think I get murdered!) The on Saturday  we are at Bish for the Murder Mystery. I hope you all have your tickets and have dusted off your 70’s gear… It should be fun.

Well last night our director was missing, with some spurious claim about being at an exhibition and it being her birthday, yea right! The only exhibition was probably the one she was making of herself after a few Pinots……Anyway all was not lost as Tim ‘I Am The Music Man’ Bruce stepped up to the plate… picked up his knife and fork and began to tuck in. He said we would run Act1 and he would let it flow and not stop it… by my watch that promise lasted 33 seconds…lol

Anyway it was a promising rehearsal even if some people who shall not be named (Andrew) were still sitting in the hall when they should have been on stage. (Note to self – check eBay for electric cattle prods). All the Ratettes were there and beginning to look mean. In the meantime in-between rehearsing, our hard-working Chairperson was keeping herself at the forefront of modern communication and keeping in touch with all the latest news and events as our picture shows!!!

Hmmm... hard at work on those lines eh Lisa?

Well I must go now as Matron says if I can find my teeth I can have a bourbon finger, so see some of you on Saturday I hope and the rest of you next Tuesday and enjoy Sunday.

First Rehearsal

Dames Blog Stardate 140910… It’s Panto Jim but not as we know it.

Okay yes I know this blog is late but I have been busy ok?? I had a rehearsal on Monday then panto rehearsal last night and another rehearsal tonight, will someone please tell my brain that I am not 25 anymore…. (keep walking Nigel!!)

Well last night we had our first proper rehearsal for ‘Dick’ and it was good to be up on the stage again. We had some great ideas for the opening and no doubt ‘elf & safety are having a fit!!!!  But if we can do it then it should be spectaluar spectaclualr good. There were still some notable absentees (keep walking Nigel!!) but I think they all had notes from their mum.

Alas I won’t be at the first chorus rehearsal next Sunday as I am hiring a 40’ Juggernaut to take Claudia back to Crewe, which is a shame as I was so looking forward to seeing the slinky movements of Godfrey & Pendleton (keep walking Nigel!!) under the watchful eye of ‘Strictly’ Higgins but never mind, I am sure with my natural dancing abilities I will easily be able to pick up the moves I will miss. *cough*

"Note to self..... next time buy blue backcloth"

Well it’s time to go now as Matron says I have to take my tablets… See you all next week… (keep walking Nigel!!)

Out comes the highlighter pen!

There’s a special moment at the start of every panto season where I take out my script one lunchtime at work and go through it highlighting all my lines. This a) makes it look like I’ve done something and b) makes me scared at the scale of the task ahead.

It’s hard to be scared of my script at the moment, though, because it’s inside a light purple folder with a lovely puppy dog on the front. This did not help me to fend off allegations from certain tall cast members at last night’s rehearsal that I am a bit girly. This theory was also based on me talking about chocolate, shoes and Lady Gaga in quick succession. I hastily grunted something about football and cars, before comparing my pretty folder with two of our Rachels, who both had lovely kittens on their pretty pink folders. Ahem.

Anyway, I’m heading off into a quiet corner with my lunch and a highlighter pen – and something to put over my puppy dog folder to avoid embarrassing questioning from my colleagues. Perhaps a copy of Vogue or Glamour…

Panto is GO!

It seems like only a year ago… oh, hang on, it was!

Here we go again then, proof that Autumn has finally arrived with the first full rehearsal. Only 12 weeks to go ’til we open. Plenty of time to learn the lines, songs and dance moves…

Sunday 12th September Read-through

Well here we go, twelve weeks today it will be opening night but yesterday we had the first read-through. There were two or three notable absentees. Paul was missing as he had lost his voice. He had it last on Saturday so if anyone finds it can they let him have it back before tomorrow please? Rachel S. was once again putting her considerable vocal talent to good use and winning another competition and Nigel was supposedly walking the Cleveland way. It was not an intentional walk, he had gone up to watch and someone nicked his car!! Hopefully he will be back by tomorrow.

So there we all were being guided and cajoled by our Director and Producer, henceforth  known as The Krankies (Fandabadozie!) and the watchful eye of Chris ‘Strictly’ Higgins.

The reading began slowly until the ‘Dick’ jokes started. Lisa was going whiter by the minute. Just when will I see my Dick again?? Then Tom ‘Get Outta My Pub’ Davis gave full rein to his vocal talents and we went through the full gamut of Eastenders, On the Buses and Only Fools and Horses!! I get the feeling he is going to enjoy King Rat.

He should have gone to Specsavers

It was a pleasant surprise to see Georgina back (every cloud has a silver lining they say) and so she will be playing a ‘dirty rat’ although she won’t be here for the first rehearsal as Julia continues to milk her 25^th wedding anniversary!  It was nice to see Liam back after his year’s ‘sabbatical’ even if he was missing his comic partner, (keep walking Nigel!!)  It was even nicer of him to lend me a tenner to pay Chris her sponsorship money. Now we’re all square!!

So there we are folks, you’ve read through the rubbish you have to work with this year (well most have… keep walking Nigel!!) and tomorrow night we start in earnest. I hope everyone else is looking forward to it as much as me…… Don’t be late and someone please chain Andrew to a chair tomorrow night…. See ya.

Off we go!

Hot off the press, here we are at the read-through this afternoon!