The Review Issue 5 | Page 23

To advertise in The Review email [email protected] 23 OH YES IT IS… IT’S PANTO TIME IN STEWARTON! award-winning ayrshire theatre company set to stage panto favourite jack and the beanstalk Christmas is fast approaching and Stewarton Drama Group are delighted to present their 41st annual pantomime will be ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’, written by Nancy McPherson and directed by Alison Barr. The colourful show will be presented in the theatre in the Stewarton Area Centre every night at 7.30pm from Wednesday 3rd December until Saturday 6th December 2014 with a matinee performance at 2.00pm on Saturday 6th. This year’s show has something for everyone and features a wonderful selection of traditional panto characters guaranteed to keep the audience entertained. This year’s panto hero Jack (Fiona Gordon), will need to have his wits about him as he endeavours to fight off baddie Butcher Bonecruncher ( Jim Goldie) who has hatched an evil plan to capture Jack’s true love Jill Genteel ( Janine Bannatyne) and put her on the menu for Giant Guzzle’s (Gavin Cook) dinner. Helping Jack to save the day are his mother, the hilarious panto dame Clootie Dumpling (David Robertson), his silly brother Pimple Dumpling (Craig McLaughlan) and his ditsy sister Dimple Dumpling (Denise MacColl). Lots of laughs are guaranteed courtesy of the comedy escapades of the two Fairy ‘Mulkmaids’ Hairy Hulk and Dairy Mulk (Caren McLean and Laura McPherson/Michelle Barnett) and the perma-tanned tough guys Frankie Fakebake and Permatan Peem (Walter Findlay and Johnnie McPherson). Adding to the fun are Farquahar Snot (Graeme McCarter) who has designs on Jill, Facia Hoarse (Suzie MacLeod) who is upwardly mobile, and Jill’s father Baron Boggin-Bogle (Gavin Cook). Add to this mix everyone’s favourite character the panto cow, Cuddle the Coo (Scott and Jack Mains) and you’ve got the picture! Under the direction of musical director Ewan Mains and his fabulous live band the audience will be treated to a range of specially selected songs, including traditional favourites and one or two surprises! Tickets for the show, priced at £8.00 full price and £5.00 concession, are on sale every day at Stewarton Library. Alternatively, you can reserve your seats NOW by emailing stewartondramagroup@hotmail. co.uk There is also a special block booking offer of Buy 10 Tickets, Get One Free. A selection of juice, crisps and glo-sticks will be on sale during the interval. Group President, Morag Smith said: “This has been a great season for Stewarton Drama Group so far. We opened our season in August with a very successful publicity drive for new members, many of whom will take to the stage for the first time in our Pantomime. And we’ve recently finished a wonderful run of our Autumn play ‘Bouncers’ which played to packed audiences in October. “The performances of our recent pantomimes have proved to be very popular with local audiences, and we’re expecting sell-out performances once again this year. So don’t delay in booking your tickets so you can come along and join in the fun in true panto style, booing at the baddies and cheering for the goodies!” From top: Full cast, The Dumpling Family and Cuddle the Coo, Jack and Jill with Cuddle the Coo, Frankie Fakebake and Permatan Peem, Hairy Hulk and Dairy Mulk