St Mary’s Theatre Club is gearing up for its annual panto this week with auditions being held for ‘Charlie the Chimney Sweep.’
And if you missed Tuesday’s auditions, there’ll be another chance to camp it up tonight with a second set of try-outs at the Masonic Hall.
This year’s production, by veteran writer and producer Maggie Perkovic, has roles for the usual assortment of Panto ne’er-do-wells, including Dame Dolly Doughnut, comic duo Hit and Run, and posh Lady Hannah and her daughter Lavinia, as well as the central character of Charlie and a pair of dastardly villains. There are also various roles for children.
“The panto is set in Victorian London, just after the war,” explained Maggie when Scilly News caught up with her earlier this week.
“A family has fallen on hard times. The father is away at war and saved an officer’s life. Charlie is forced to be the man of the house and go out to work as a chimney sweep. Without giving away the plot, there’s a happy ending - but also a surprising twist!”
In fact, this year’s production was in danger of falling at the first hurdle when many of the usual stalwarts were ill, on holiday or otherwise unavailable - but Maggie is hopeful a new crop of talent will save the day.
“We’re hoping to get a lot of new faces - and younger faces,” she said. “And of course we also need backstage helpers, painters etc, as many as we can get.”
For Maggie and other Theatre Club members, it’s all good fun. “It’s a laugh to do and it brightens up the winter,” said Maggie. “The Off-Islanders particularly enjoy coming over and watching us in January. And it’s a good opportunity to find new faces for the Summer production.”
She added that Theatre Club has two nominations for the Cornwall Drama Association Awards, one for the Summer play and one for best actor, also in the Summer play. The ceremony will be held in Perrenporth on November 5th and Maggie will be on hand to represent the Islands and receive any awards given. “I’ll be so chuffed as there was such a good cast in the play this year!”
Drama is thriving on the Islands at the moment with another joint Scilly - Hall for Cornwall production scheduled for late November, following the hugely successful ‘The Alice Analysis.’