A belated Happy New Year to all!

Our panto has now been and gone – another very enjoyable experience for us and hopefully for the great audiences we had!  Despite the awful weather, we had pretty full houses most nights and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Thanks to one and all for your continued support.

            The panto was fraught with difficulties this year – including our Director, Jennifer Dale (who was also playing the part of The Queen), having to pull out through ill health. Happily, Society stalwart, Greta Laidler, stepped in. We also had a last minute stand in for the role of the Wicked Charcoal Fairy, in the form of Ann Bircumshaw. Both ladies put in terrific performances and you would never guess that they had not been with us since the start. The weather was another factor with rehearsals having to be cancelled as well as concern about how some of our actors could get to Pickering through the snow from far flung places such as Beck Hole. However, despite our problems, the show came together under the auspices of Maureen Symonds who took over as Director and the end product was certainly worth all the anxieties.

            Of course, that is now all ancient history as we have started rehearsing for our 2010 spring show, “The Boyfriend” by Sandy Wilson. Directed by former Lady Lumley’s pupil, Luke Arnold, this promises to be a vibrant show with many of our local youngsters taking major roles. The story takes place at Madame Dubonnet’s Finishing School on the French Riviera. Polly, an English heiress, falls in love with Tony, a delivery boy. Conscious of her father's warning to beware of boys dating her for her family’s money, Polly pretends to be just a secretary. Things get complicated with the unexpected arrival in Nice of Polly's parents and Lord and Lady Brockhurst. It turns out that Lord and Lady Brockhurst are in fact Tony’s wealthy parents. Polly and Tony have shared the same secret – they both come from wealthy families. However, everyone ends up living happily ever after. There are lots of well-known songs such as “Won’t you Charleston with Me”, “I Could be Happy with You” and “It’s Never too Late to Fall in Love”. The Box Office will open in April and the show ruins from 10th – 15th May.

            As always, may I invite anyone who is interested in joining us in any capacity to either come along to the theatre on rehearsal nights (Mondays and Thursdays) or ring the Box office number (01751 474833) and leave your name and number and we’ll get back to you.

            That’s it for now  - hope to see you at the theatre soon!!

Linda Tester, Publicity Manager.