THE PANTOMIME SEASON

We went to the Panto last night and it was brilliant! It was "Snow White" performed by the Chelmsford area Young Farmers. Not knowing quite what to expect we were very pleasantly surprised by the high standard of production - not "West End" but perfectly enjoyable local am-dram story telling, acceptable to all the family, and excellently staged. There was music, dancing, slapstick, "He's Behind you!" together with all the booing and hissing that goes with panto and the usual really corny jokes. It just proves that family fun does not always have to be crude and vulgar to be enjoyable - and it was all the better for it. There were some really funny moments which engaged the whole audience from children right up to grandparents. It is a pity it is on for only 4 performances.

It reminded me of the times when we used to go with our kids to the Panto at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester: being theatre chaplain did give me some benefits! It was always a good family entertainment from a regular crew of actors who were there year by year, but ever fresh.
For a few years we introduced a "Pantomime Carol Service" when the cast would come and sing carols interspersed with readings, biblical and secular. Interestingly the cast would not appear on stage "in character" as it was regarded as bad luck, but they came and were very supportive - I am quite sure it had nothing to do with the splendid buffet lunch that the theatre provided for them afterwards - before the matinee! But, for me, it was where Christmas started because there was a exceptionally high standard of reading, singing, and enjoyment, and after the first year or two, as word spread, the theatre would be full of people who came from local churches, or shoppers who were lured in for a break from the Christmas rush.

I met some lovely people in that time and was privileged to minister to people who worked in a transient occupation and who suffered the same stresses and strains as the rest of us - and often more of them because of the pressure of the job. I conducted weddings, baptisms and funerals for some of the theatre population and did a fair amount of listening at moments of high stress. So the Panto season brings more than simple enjoyment - but also many happy memories!