AMAZINGLY, despite Cheriton Fitzpaine being like a "Plague Village" since before Christmas, the Drama Club has been able to produce their usual Pantomime.

”Dick Whittington and his Cat”, written by Ben Crocker, opens with pretty Laura Kemp (owner of the Green House) disguised as a hideous King Rat and Paula Mossman from Upham as a very "Down to Earth" Fairy Queen.

Roger Bellamy as Alderman Fitzwarren doubles as his brother Captain Horatio Fitzwarren, and amazed us all with a complicated tongue-twister, repeated without hesitation.

A now-experienced young actress, Charlotte French, was a confident Dick Whittington, and proved to have a very pleasant singing voice.

The two Fools: Idle Jack played by Queen Elizabeth’s School student Richard Chapple, and Sarah the Cook by Andrew Norton, made a hilarious double act (although sometimes prompter Lesley Rogers seemed to be part of a Trio!)

One of the pleasures of living in a village, is seeing children become young actors and we have to recognise, and be thankful for, the help given them during the Summer Scheme.

Holly Metcalf is obviously a talent to be watched - her part as Alice Fitzwarren is usually played by an older lady, but her portrayal could not be bettered.

The Star of the Show was undoubtedly Neve Hall. As the cat, she had to use body language and Meouws to express her thoughts. Neve even used British Sign Language which she had learnt as a Brownie from Lesley Rogers.

The younger children, playing rats, sailors, guards etc. were confident in their singing and dancing, having been coached by Tracey Evershed-Martin, and the "underwater scene" where ultra-violet lights gave us a realistic scene was especially well done.

As always, Dave Sims provides music throughout, and is also responsible for the lighting.

Another David - Pink - managed to finish the set-painting and stage erection in time to appear as the King of Morocco.

There are two more performances of the panto which will take place on Friday and Saturday, February 2 and 3 at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall.

Mary Nunn