Pennington Pocket Players delighted a packed first night audience at the Memorial Hall with a lively production of Sinbad the Sailor in 1988.
The tale from the Arabian Nights had all the ingredients of a traditional pantomime, with a charming principal boy, a dotty dame, pretty heroines and comic characters, according to The Mail's reviewer.
The cast of Sing A Song Of Sixpence in 1989
The 60-strong cast displayed an abundance of enthusiasm, which kept the show going along at a cracking pace for well over two-and-a-half hours.
Mike Whitaker, as Mrs Semolina Sinbad, gave an excellent performance. And the comic duo of Janet Gough and Arol Stringer were very funny indeed.
Dame Daffodil (John Metcalfe) with Brokers Men Yvonne Athersmith (left) and Jan Gough in Sing A Song Of Sixpence in 1989
Yvonne Athersmith played Sinbad. The wicked sorcerer (Marcus Williams) was suitably sinister being booed and hissed by young and old, and the Cockney 'boxer' Crunchbones was well played by Brian McQullin.
The reviewer said the youngest members of the cast contributed to the show's success with some fine singing and dancing. The Dancing Sailors were an instant hit when they took to the stage.
Sinbad (Yvonne Athersmith) and the sorcerer (Marcus Williams) in a scene from Sinbad the Sailor in 1988
The audience was warned by The Mail's reviewer not to sit too near the front of Pennington Players' panto Sing A Song Of Sixpence in 1989 - they were liable to end up drenched by the exuberant dame.
John Metcalfe had a splashing time as Dame Daffodil Dalrymple, owner of the traditional poverty-ridden laundry.
Adrian Chojnacki was a suitably clod-hopping hero, Mike Whittaker an hilarious comic bookie and Jane Grantham a wonderfully demure female lead.
Bailiffs Jan Gough and Yvonne Athermsith got plenty of laughs with their Cannon and Ball act.
A scene from in Sing A Song Of Sixpence in 1989
Little Willie, played by a quaking Julie Samson, spent the play being chased by his over-amorous and toothless sweetheart Carole Stringer.
Dawn Chojnacki as Queen of Hearts gave the Evening Mail's cookery column a mention in the midst of making Pate de Foie Rhubarb.
Amy Metcalfe made a pleasing foil to Demon King Neil Douglas. Sarah Douglas was Queen Bee. Young dancers performed as Living Dolls and Cath Whittaker and Val Newby were quick on their hooves as Larry the horse.
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