| 23rd November, 2003 The Wivenhoe Players 'Evening of Entertainment' proved a resounding success, with great audiences on both Friday and Saturday night, 21st and 22nd November. Two hours of entertainment featuring songs, sketches, and the mystical Zanzara who somehow managed to exchange places with his lovely assistant Zoe in a box sealed by a fearsomely sharp sword and securely padlocked in front of the audience.
Richard Edwardson as Jake the Peg was highly amusing and Brian Ford's monologue rendition of 'Magna Carta' a true feat that left the audience gasping in admiration for his ability to remember something as complicated as well as smiling with enjoyment at the words. Gwen Clarke provided further variety with a piece entitled 'My Shoes' and also something from Pam Ayres.
The Wivenhoe Players were supported throughout the evening by members of the Wivenhoe Panto Band, Nick and Julie-Ann White, and Steve Fisher. Contributions came also from several members of the Wivenhoe Folk Club. Three highly amusing songs by Joan Gifford with her guitar were greatly enjoyed. A song from Alan van Loen, Denise Bidewell and Jane Rayner, a take off of a Cole Porter number 'Everything Glows' in reference to nuclear power was just one of many highlights.
Note: Pictures by Clive Heasman |
Brian Ford, the 'oldest swinger in town' opened the show by playing his
guitar and taking the audience down memory lane with a couple of songs
from the 1950s and 60s, played and sung in his own inimitable style. Other
singing performances during the course of the evening from Phil Stevens,
Tricia Faulkner, Lynda Edwardson, Steve Fisher, Claire Rumble, Sarah Rout
and Zoe Summers were all thoroughly appreciated and showed what a wealth
of talent we are lucky enough to possess in Wivenhoe.
Paddy
Bane and Joy Heasman made a welcome re-appearance as Wivenhoe's two bag
ladies, which they do so well. Performing first Harold Pinter's short
sketch 'The Black and White', followed in the show's second half by a
sequel, 'After the Black and White', written by Paddy Bane. The ladies had
their audience giggling with some of their lines, delivered in truly
professional style and wonderful mannerisms.
The final number, with a strong
Mexican flavour, led by Alan van Loen and Denise Bidewell brought the show
to a close on a definite high.