|
Paignton Pantomime
Productions' traditional Christmas show
at the Festival Theatre has been "clobbered"
by the costs of hiring the theatre. "It
would have been a massive gamble to have
taken on these costs this year - especially
with the competition of the Luton Airport
Girl as Cinderella at the Princess, Torquay,"
said Mrs Dorothy Harwood, PPP's director.
"Like
everybody else, we have been clobbered by
the tremendous costs of using the Festival."
Instead,
Aladdin, this year's panto, is at the smaller
Palace Avenue Theatre.
"Of course
we would rather be at the Festival but our
formula of a traditional, no-gimmicks show
for the kids is still pulling in the crowds,"
said Mrs Harwood.
The closure of
Plymouth's Palace Theatre is bringing many
block bookings from across the Tamar.
"We
have always done well with coaches from
all over Devon, but now we are getting them
from Cornwall as well," she said.
The
move to the less sumptuous theatre does
have some advantages.
"We used
to do three performances a day to cover our
costs and that meant cutting the shows to
two hours. Now, audiences will be getting
a three-hour show, and the tickets will
be slightly cheaper as well. I can promise
a very spectacular production. As usual,
no expenses will be spared," said Mrs
Harwood.
|
|
Paignton Pantomime
Productions' Aladdin should look authentic
this Christmas - because props and costumes
will come direct from San Francisco's Chinatown.
The
show's director, Dorothy Harwood and Joan
Bouttens the make up artist are going on
a shopping spree in the towns's Chinese
quarter while they are on holiday in the
United States.
"We're going
armed with a list of stuff to bring the
show alive - especially traditional Chinese
masks," Mrs Harwood said.
Casting
for the Palace Avenue show, which opens
Boxing Day, has already started.
Joyce
Broadhead will be principal boy and Julie
Howard will play Princess Balroubadour.
|
