THE SHOW LIST AND PLOTS
Champion the Panto Horse saves Wonderland. 13th
& 14th December 1991.
Straight away from its snappy title you are aware that this is no ordinary
pantomime. “Champion the Panto Horse saves Wonderland” is in fact a
contrived pantomime aimed at allowing a large number of people to play their
favourite characters.
We’re not going to give away much about the plot to you here but as the
audience you are an extremely important part of the play. It is essential that
you let your hair down and express your feelings. Cheer and applaud the heroes
and Boo and Hiss the baddies. Join in and make this an evening to enjoy and
remember!
Robin of Botley. 18th & 19th December 1992.
At last the true story can be told! After many years of myths and legends we now
really know the true story of Robin Hood. Yes he really was born in Botley
where, after brave service in the Crusades, he became a leader of a local revolt
against injustice, abuse of public office and an early form of Poll Tax. Things
didn’t work out exactly as he planned, but another famous local, Marion of
Hartford, was able to…. but enough of the plot! You came here to see what
happened not to read all about it! Just remember to cheer the heroes and boo at
the baddies!
Cinder…Who ? 17th & 18th December 1993.
A Pantomime in Time and Space. You may think that you have heard the full
account of the Prince pursuing Cinderella, but you are forgetting the space-time
continuum! Yes, here we meet Dr Who up against the evil Daft Ada and her
sidekick Velcro. We enlist the help of the Thunderbirds, Renee, Toulouse le Star
Trek, two hopeless robots IR1 and IR1-2 and even J R Hartley. But as the 3 Ugly
Sisters are joined by the Daleks we seem to be in deep deep trouble. At the end
of the day the Fairy Godmother with Neil Armstrong help to save the day.
Can you believe this? The Botley Pantomime is not constrained by time, space or
sanity for that matter… Enjoy the show and come back again tomorrow or is that
yesterday??????
Champ 2: Hooks Revenge. 16th & 17th December 1994.
We last met Champ the Panto Horse in Christmas 1991 when he saved Wonderland
from a wicked collection of villains. This year he is back to face more evil in
the form of Captain Hook. You know, he’s the nasty pirate from Peter Pan.
Anyway to set the scenes just imagine that it is a few days before Christmas,
everyone is looking forward to the festivities and the presents. In Toyland the
Elves have finished making the toys and Santa is ready to distribute them. Look
out for Captain Hook and some other familiar faces in unexpected places as the
story unfolds.
Snow White & Aladdin in Mine your own Business. 1st & 2nd November
1996.
Did you ever wonder how things turned out in the “happy ever after”
following the traditional stories we all know so well? This year Botley
Community Theatre lets you peep at the pages, which were never written.
Imagine Snow White several years on, the “marriage made in heaven” has gone
wrong, the Wicked Queen has regained control and seven dwarfs have become grown
up business partners for Snow White. Bring Aladdin (who has suffered similar
fates) on to the scene and the stage is set for a new adventure. What will the
two heroes make of each other, what wickedness has the Queen got up her sleeves,
and why is the Genie suffering from a mammoth headache?
Let the Pantomime commence… but remember to cheer the heroes and to boo the
baddies… as loud as you can.
Carry on Champ. 30th & 31st January 1998.
Those of you who are getting long in the tooth may have a distant and dim memory
of that terrible evening in 1991 when the Botley Panto was rudely interrupted by
the arrival in Wonderland of that malignant menace the Wicked Fairy Godfather.
Botley has to forgo the pleasure of its Panto as the leading characters,
Champion the Panto Horse and his friend Mary, were snatched away to rescue
Wonderland from the evil Godfather.
This evening, at last, we will finally get to see Champ and Mary in the Panto,
which never happened, or will we?
The Ice Queen (It’ sno Joke in Botley). 22nd & 23rd January 1999.
Over the years many wicked villains have plagued Botley that has been saved by a
variety of heroes and heroines. Tonight a new evil stalks the shopping centre in
Botley! Our children are not safe, especially the ones who break promises of
good behaviour. When one small but growing boy falls foul of the dreaded Ice
Queen, can a timid self-conscious young girl find the strength and resources to
rescue him? Your help will be needed, remember to shout and cheer for the
goodies and boo and hiss the baddies.
Put your everyday cares aside enter the Magic Kingdom of Botley and most of all
keep an eye on what is in the freezer!!
Millennium Madness. 21st & 22nd January 2000.
Over the years, Botley has seen many wicked villains stalk the streets and
shopping centre and each time a variety of heroes and heroines have saved the
day. Tonight, we discover the cause of the dreaded Millennium Bug which has
continued to affect us all in some way. We are not safe yet. The bug is still
around the streets and shopping precinct of Botley creating havoc in its wake.
None of our computers are safe and traffic lights seem to be operating out of
sequence. The bug has even struck in Nursery Rhyme land with the characters
finding it hard to obtain supplies with Little Miss Muffett sitting on her
tuffet with an empty bowl. Even Old King Cole, who resides in Cumnor Castle,
cannot access the Internet to check his shares and book his next holiday!
What can Old Mother Hubbard and her colleagues do to prevent a complete shutdown
and disaster for all of us as February 29th looms closer! Can the goodies find
the strength and courage to defeat the bug and let us all live happily ever
after? It can only be done with your help in cheering the goodies and booing the
baddies!!! Even raising your voices for a song or two will help Old Mother
Hubbard and friends in their quest to defeat the bug!
Sit back, enjoy the show and once again enter the magic of Pantomime in Botley.
(And keep an eye on what may be under your seat – it could be required to help
the goodies in some way)!
Jack and the Beans Talk. 26th & 27th January 2001.
After the chaos created last year by Millennium Doug, normality has at last
returned to Cumnor Castle and Botley shopping precinct, with Doug now safely
installed as the new manager of Budgen’s (or should that be Co-Op) Super
market somewhere in the land.
However, strange things have been happening in the garden, with the Head
Gardener, Percy Throwup using his garden shed as a secret laboratory for
dabbling into genetically modified produce! However, his former apprentice,
Krenpol and his two musically minded helpers discover other uses for genetics
and concoct a potion to give to the Princess Rose that will send her to sleep
for a short while. When she wakes up she will only have eyes for him…. At
least isn’t that what happens in Sleeping Beauty? But you should know by now
that Botley Community Theatre productions do not follow the traditional theme,
so anything might happen – and usually does!
The band of goodies, led by Jack the new apprentice, Mrs Flanders his Mum,
Dolly, who was Percy’s first creation (you remember Dolly don’t you?) and
Percy, need to find the Princess and restore her back to her former beauty. Can
they find the antidote that will release her from the dungeons where she is
held…? And who is that old man in there who they discover was locked up 35 or
so years ago? how can he help? What can Percy’s new version of genetically
modified beans do to assist? Enter Charlie and her team from ‘Ground Farce’
to offer a few suggestions, but they seem more interested in Percy’s home
brew! But one thing is for sure; they are going to need your help in restoring
everything back to normal in Cumnor Castle (at least for another year)! You need
to cheer the goodies and boo the baddies as good attempts to overcome evil. Sit
back, enjoy the show and once again enter the strange magic of Pantomime in
Botley.
Wind up Willow Walk. 22nd & 23rd March 2002. This year, the
performance is in March so it’s billed as a Spring Spectacular, its still a
pantomime though! We find ourselves at a Garden Party thrown by Mr Toad the
benevolent old gentleman who owns most of Botley. Toad has a penchant for
gadgets, this time it’s a car. The car salesman is a dodgy character and in
league with an unscrupulous property developer. Between them, they trick Toad
out of his holdings and start to rip up his stately home. Toad seeks help from
his staff and friends, Ratty, Mole and Owl, who begin to look for a traitor in
the camp. The police are also on the case with a well-known Chief Inspector and
his Sergeant always looking for that elusive decent pint! Will Toad recover what
is rightfully his, will we see the good people of Botley saved, and will we ever
find out where our writers get their inspiration!!!!
Fowl Play in Botley. 24th & 25th January 2003. Although peace and
quiet now reigns in Botley Shopping Precinct, following years of evil baddies
stalking the parade, the folk are wondering how dear old Granny Smith and her
family are winning so much in Sid Snot's Lottery outlet and also picking the
right race winners to win large sums of money in Jake Simpson's Gee Gee shop!
Perhaps it is something to do with the hens who are laying 'odd' sorts of eggs?
Not just ordinary eggs, but ones which contain bits of paper with names and
numbers written on them! Still, Granny Smith, being the kind-hearted soul she
is, uses the winnings wisely, offering various amounts to the old and needy folk
in Botley with the help of her two loving granddaughters, Vicky and Ellie.
Even old Jim and his patient wife Dorothy are given a handout to help pay the
gas bill (or was it really for Jim's supply of magazines....)! However, as in
all pantomime, there is always someone to spoil the good things. Assisted by
Norman and Hector (two garden gnomes), Sid Snot and Jake Simpson, with the help
of Sid's daft son Ricky, reckon they've cracked the secret and will become rich!
As you might imagine, all sorts of trickery and treachery unfold with disastrous
results! But nothing ever seems to bother the 'Rockin Rooster' who is constantly
listening to her walkman, often irritating her hen friends with her singing and
raving!
This Panto played three performances in January 2003 to nearly 600 members of
the audience, who thoroughly enjoyed the show.
Dick Wytham and his Cat. 23rd and 24th January 2004. Panto time is here again; oh yes it is!
Dick Wytham and his cat, superbly written and directed by Ray Stone, tells the
little known story of how Dick Whittington was actually a local man - Richard of
Wytham. The story is witty, original and incorporates all the traditional
features of a good pantomime.
From the moment the curtains opened, the scene was set for an evening of
sparkling entertainment. The whole cast appeared on stage to perform a lively
rendition of The Macarena, Botley style! It was good to see the return of
familiar faces on stage as well as so much new talent within Botley Community
Theatre. Principal boy Dick (Emma Barley) played the role very well and the
relationship between Dick and the love of his life, Alice was amusing. Tamsin
Evernden brought us bang up to date with a modern day Alice, dreaming of her
future escape from dull Botley!
The comic scenes with Hulk and Bulk, (Olly Faulkener and Beccy Axtell),
sidekicks to the stereotypical baddie, Doug Siltup (Tony Wood) deserve special
mention for their interaction with the audience; they produced some truly funny
routines.
As is traditional for Botley Community Theatre, there were many opportunities
for local children to be included and they were nicely woven into the storyline.
The story moved from slapstick comedy to well-performed songs very smoothly,
greatly helped by the talented musicians who played throughout the performance.
All in all this was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Where else can one find such
entertainment and celebration of local talent for £5 a head?!
Victoria Evernden
Below are e few quotes after the show.
"An absolute brilliant performance"......"The
best yet"....."Truly professional in every way"....."Just
how can a local theatre group achieve such high standards"....."What a
wonderful collection of talent"....."This was the best ever
performance from Botley Community Theatre"....."I was so proud to have
been in the show"
Little Red Riding Hood. 28th and 29th January 2005
For 2005 Botley Community Theatre turned
to the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood. The story is introduced by
Queen Titania and her rather star-struck husband King Oberon who take us back
ten years into the past: Grandpa is out hunting in the woods with his fellow
hunters when they are captured by the evil magician Maigor. Maigor turns them all
into wolves, making Grandpa the Big Bad Wolf. Cut to the present day and we are
introduced to the brave and handsome Prince Valiant and his rather cynical
squire Humbly Grumbly. The Prince has been sent by the King to investigate all
the stories a Wicked Magician and a Big Bad Wolf Haunting the woods.
He is on his way to the village of
North Hinksey (Botley) where he meets Little Red Riding Hood (LRRH) and her
friends Polly Pickle, Prudence Pudding and Simple Simon. Little Red Riding
Hood and the Prince immediately fall in love whilst Prudence takes a bit of
a shine to the prince’s squire. Polly though has to again tell prudence’s
brother, Simple Simon, that he is not handsome enough for her to marry.
The Village is also home to the local
bully boys Evers O’Greedy and his helper Willy Weasel. They have a magic potion
with which they plan to overthrow their master Maigor and claim the woods,
taking Grandma’s cottage for their own.
Maigor meanwhile has sent his henchman
the Big Bad Wolf (BBW) to gobble up Grandma and LRRH, but the Prince has got
wind of the plan and arrives at the cottage only to be frozen by Maigor’s Magic
Wand. After Maigor and the BBW have fled the cottage, Simon and Polly arrive
with the magic potion. The Prince takes the potion to use against Maigor and
heads off to Maigor’s secret cave. At the cave the Prince battles with evil
spirits as well as Weasel and O’Greedy before Maigor appears and starts turning
everyone to stone with his wand. Simon bravely tries to throw the magic potion
over Maigor and with a little help from Woofie, his pet dog, the Evil Magician
is defeated. The BBW changes back into Grandpa, much to Grandma’s delight.
Everyone then gets married to everyone else (well nearly) and they all live
happily ever after.
Three sell out performances made 2005 another successful year for BCT.
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