Written by John Gardiner and Fiz Coleman
Directed by Marion Rogers
The action of this wild west musical takes place on Christmas Eve in Diamond Tooth Lil's Saloon, where all are busy with preparations for a Christmas party. Word comes that a 'baddy' and his gang are headed their way. It seems Diamond Tooth Lil helped the bad guy in a robbery years before and he's coming for the diamond she has!
A pantomime style musical comedy previously performed by the Players 35 years earlier, back in 1984.
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On a frosty November night, the Medstead Players did Medstead proud with a silly, soppy cowboy farce ‘Bad Day at Black Frog Creek’ and made the evening a lot more entertaining, than being in front the TV with ‘Gloom’ and ‘Doom’.
With a little audience participation, a couple of songs accompanied by the saloon pianist, a few innuendos scattered here and there, it was a perfect performance from the back stage crew (great set) to front of house - it could not have been bettered. The casting was spot on, as was the direction and production and you could see that everyone on stage was really enjoying their parts, with some of them changing tack from previous roles.
Well done Medstead Players, everyone left with smiles on their faces and feeling good.
With the generosity of the audience, over £300 goes to the Donkey Sanctuary, in memory of Pam Kercher, a founder member of the Players.
Thank you one and all.
[Kathie Hoff]
Another successful production by The Medstead Players and their supporting team. Gone are the days when 'Am Dram' conjured up several staid weary yokels dressed in crepe paper and ill-fitting costumes cavorting on the village stage.
Two well supported performances. The Hall which was full to capacity was buzzing with anticipation and the cast did not fail to deliver. A mixture of drama, comedy and panto, ideal for the run up to the Christmas season. The enthusiasm of the cast shone through and they looked as though they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
The play commenced with Calamity Brown inviting the audience into Diamond Tooth Lil’s Saloon Bar in Black Frog Creek. The only bar in town! Janice Hopwood-Hall did a splendid job of introduction. The opening curtains revealed a typical western bar with Stan Witcher playing Old Slops the barman. He had the weary air of someone who had been doing the job for years.
Enter Diamond Tooth Lil, a somewhat faded saloon owner with a colourful past, excellently played by Sharon Blackshaw. It was a wonder she maintained her modesty with her vigorous antics wearing an eye-catching strapless gown. Superbly executed.
Kathy Gunning took on the role of Angel Delight a very flirtatious not so young lady with an eye for the male of the species, she fulfilled her wish of playing ‘a girlie girl’ in this play. Didn’t she do it with flourish, and she got her man!
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What can I say about Old Ma Treacle on being tasked with cooking up black frogs for the Christmas Party, a somewhat forceful woman, wearing enormous fancy red bloomers bashed anyone on the head with her cooking pan, should they have the temerity to question her. This was Tania McCullough’s second foray into the realms of Am Dram. Brilliant performance.
As for Nicola Young’s unfortunate sobriquet of Hairy Hannah, well done, she played the part well and she too ‘got her man’. No play would be complete without the males of the species.
Every Western has its John Wayne as Sheriff, Nick Cooper played our Big Brad, his gun toting skills were somewhat clumsy but justice, albeit somewhat dodgy, was seen to prevail. So good, Nick.
Patrick Burridge in his role of Dumbo Dawson - didn’t he look dumb! Wonderful. Did he ever finish knitting that scarf for his mother. Though his knitting needles came in very useful for stabbing Old Ma. So happy, he and Hairy Hannah teamed up.
No Nose Muldoon, leader of the gang, once train robber outflanked by Diamond Tooth Lil many moons ago, came by to retrieve his ill-gotten gains. All is well that ends well as is said, he and Lil settled their differences, romance bloomed once again. Jon Norman played a fantastic part, a first for him, hopefully not the last, so good - well done.
The dreadful noxious stinky Filthy Frank Chisholm, having not washed or changed his clothes for seven years, one could almost smell him as he made his entrance. He eventually scrubbed up well, after being persuaded to take a bath by the bossy Ma Treacle, love was in the air. Peter Cox, you were great. Not so sure how Ma would take to your canine companion - Rags, Peter Hopwood-Hall hopefully your bark was worse than your bite.
Their American accents passed muster, so difficult to mimic. Panto atmosphere prevailed with the dance routines and choruses thanks to Helena Hunt’s musical expertise.
My one criticism, and that comes with old age, the background music before the show and during the interval was too loud and made conversation difficult - perhaps a little quieter next time, please.
Especial credit must go to director Marion Rogers. Also, all the supporting members, without whom the production could not take place; they stage managed, designed and built the set, did the graphics, collected the props, lighting and sound, prompted, organised the costumes and makeup and of course the refreshments, plus a whole host of other essential tasks.
Finally, well done Medstead Players – may you play on, so we may enjoy your future productions.
[Sam Hartley]
Cast:
Angel Delight (Diamond Tooth's pretty niece) - Kathy Gunning
Big Brad (the Sheriff of Black Frog Creek) - Nick Cooper
Calamity Brown (an over-eager farm girl) - Janice Hopwood-Hall
Diamond Tooth Lil (owner of the Diamond Tooth Lil Saloon) - Sharon Blackshaw
Dumbo Dawson (a thick gunslinger) - Patrick Burridge
Filthy Frank Chisholm (a filthy, pongy gold prospector) - Peter Cox
Hairy Hannah (a hairy, noisy gunslingeress) - Nicola Young
No Nose Muldoon (a quiet-talking, mean, 'ornery gunslinger) - Jon Norman
Old Ma Treacle (Diamond Tooth's cook) - Tania McCullough
Old Slops - Stan Whitcher
Rags the dog - Peter Hopwood-Hall
Saloon pianist - Helena Hunt
This amateur production by arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.