Drama in Husthwaite
Pantomime
Do you know what happens when the King burps?
No, what does happen when the King burps?
He issues a royal pardon.
Historic lines! The first joke in Husthwaite's first pantomime.
It was 2004 and the show was Cinderella. Directed by Richard Wood and Linda Davison, Cinderella starred Katy Whenman in the title role, with Rose Lawrance as her Prince Charming and Jessie Bailey as Buttons. The Ugly Sisters were David Pike and Roy Leverton.
The same directing team followed up with Jack and the Beanstalk in 2004 and Aladdin in 2008.
Jack was played by Rebecca Scarce. The Dame was the Widow Whitehorse, played by David Pike. One memorable scene was the hilarious arrival on stage of the Giant. The sound effects were magnificent as his footsteps approached, getting ever more thunderous.
‘Fee- Fi- Fo- Fum, I smell the blood of a Yorkshireman.
Be he alive or be he dead,
I'll grind his bones to make my bread.'
On stormed the Giant, played by ... wait for it ... Charlie Wentworth, then 5 years old and not three feet high.
For Aladdin David Pike heroically stepped up again as the Dame. The costumes lady, David's own wife Gill, sent him out as Widow Twankey, in his most colourful outfit yet.
The production teams for these three pantomimes were highly skilled and experienced people. Charlie Whenman designed and constructed the box set which has become the prototype for all drama work on the Village Hall stage.
Sound was in the more than capable hands of Mike Wells, who brought his professional experience as a sound engineer with the BBC. John Ovenston inherited the responsibility as stage builder, tying this in with his work on the lights.
One of the remarkable things about Husthwaite's pantomimes is the way in which they have acted as a filter of talent and enthusiasm to the serious work of our local Amateur Dramatics group, the Easingwold Players. See our Gallery.
When We Are Married
A Yorkshire farcical comedy by JB Priestley
Directed by David Pike
With the following all-Husthwaite cast
Ruby Birtle Kerry Barker
Gerald Forbes Phil Grainger
Nancy Holmes Rose Lawrance
Alderman Joseph Helliwell Richard Wood
Maria Helliwell Liz Crawshaw
Councillor Albert Parker Lawrie Hill
Annie Parker Catherine Skinner
Herbert Soppitt Stephen Barker
Clara Soppitt Mary Hill
Mrs Northrop Anne Dowson
Fred Dyson Roy Leverton
Henry Ormondroyd Cameron Smith
Lottie Grady Linda Smith
Rev Clement Mercer Euan Crawshaw
Easingwold Players
Easingwold Players are the residential amateur dramatics group at the Galtres Entertainment Centre in Easingwold.
Ever since Cinderella, our first pantomime, in 2004, there has been increasing interest in Husthwaite in the work of the Players.
Husthwaite's Easingwold Players on-stage performances:
- David Pike Councillor Albert Parker in When We Are Married, Harold Hobson in Hobson's Choice, Godfrey Pond in the Happiest Days of Your Life, Dr Wicksteed in Habeas Corpus, Dennis In Outside Edge, Malcolm in Bedroom Farce, Roy Hubley in Plaza Suite, Albert in Wind in the Willows, Zeke and the Lion in the Wizard of Oz, Maurice Duclos in Fallen Angels , Sir Douglas Haig in Oh! What a Lovely War, Peter in Blue Remembered Hills, the Police Inspector in Trap for a Lonely Man, Colonel Von Strohm in ‘Allo ‘Allo
- Richard Wood Mr Birling in An Inspector Calls, Canon Throbbing in Habeas Corpus, Inspector Jack Frost in Cat's Cradle, Alex in Outside Edge, Baines in Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, Motorist Rupert in Wind in the Willows, Rev Parriss in the Crucible, Sir Henry Wilson in Oh! What a Lovely War, the Father of the Bride in Something for Summer, President Roosevelt in Annie, Raymond in Blue Remembered Hills, The Man in Trap for a Lonely Man
- Robin Walton Constance Wicksteed in Habeas Corpus, Susan in Bed Among the Lentils, Rose Mundy in Dancing at Lughnasa
- Katy Whenman Betty Parris in the Crucible
- Jeska Bailey Susanna Walcott in the Crucible, a polisher in the Wizard of Oz, Connie in Annie, Kate in She Stoops to Conquer
- Charlie Whenman Marshall Herrick in the Crucible
- Stephen Barker The Mayor of Munchkinland in the Wizard of Oz, Ickes and Judge Brandeis in Annie, Roger in She Stoops to Conquer, voice overs in Allo ‘Allo
- Molly Hill a weasel in Wind in the Willows
- Rose Lawrance a citizen of Munchkinland in the Wizard of Oz,
- Sophie Lawrance a Munchkinland girl in the Wizard of Oz, a New Yorker in Annie
- James Lawrance a polisher in the Wizard of Oz
- Rebecca Scarce a beautician in the Wizard of Oz, Vonnie in Annie
- Ursula Duncan an Ozian citizen in the Wizard of Oz
- India Wenworth Jane in A Doll's House, Molly in Annie
- Charles Wentworth & James Black Billy in A Doll's House
- Alun Nixon Bert Healy and Fred in Annie, Lane and Merriman in the Importance of Being Earnest, Mr Bumble in Oliver, Crabtree in ‘All ‘Allo, Rockfist Slim in The Boy Who Fell into a Book
- Callum Watt an apple seller in Annie
- Rebecca Skinner Brook in Annie
- Mary Hill a French peasant in 'Allo 'Allo
- Lawrie Hill French peasant and a soldier in 'Allo Allo'
In 2010
The next Easingwold Play, in June 2010, is Lettice and Lovage, a comedy by Peter Schaffer. David Pike directs the play. One of the two leading ladies is Lottie Schoen, played by Mary Hill.
Tuesday 23rd - Saturday 27th November (including matinee) Peter Pan, directed by Abbi Wright. Watch this space for audition dates and rehearsal schedules.
Husthwaite's Directors
- Richard Wood The Crucible
A Doll's House
The Importance of Being Earnest
She Stoops to Conquer - David Pike Trap for a Lonely Man
Lettice and Lovage - currently in rehearsal
The Ryedale Connection
At the 1812 Theatre in Helmsley David Pike has taken part in The Herbal Bed, Much Ado About Nothing, Elgar's Rondo, Saturday Sunday and Monday, Humble Boy and Beyond the Moor Gate
David has worked with Dominic Goodwin and Ratatat Theatre on Cabaret and A History of Radio Comedy
He is a member of Scandalous Affairs, a touring drama group which specialises in murder mysteries.
Visits to Husthwaite by touring drama groups
- December 2009 North Country Theatre Home on the Range
- January 2010 Dominc Goodwin A New Year Cabaret
Coming in 2010
Sunday 6th June 3.00pm Dominic Goodwin Wind in the Willows
Tuesday 9th November North Country Theatre
Saturday 11th December Bad Apple Theatre Company A Yorkshire Christmas Carol
