Robinson Crusoe, a treasure of a show!

Typical of a pantomime, this production was a whirlwind of hilarity and wonder— the brightly painted back drops and colourful lights were classic yet perfect in achieving a lively atmosphere. While I initially feared that the usual gender-crossed characters and cries of “it’s behind you!” would be predictable and unoriginal, the traditional elements of pantomime were performed wonderfully and solidified the community spirit. The witty humour of Margarita Jucilita (Jon Gill) and “nutty” Nick (Katisha Harris) held a great balance of light-hearted and adult jokes, ensuring laughter reached everyone in the diverse audience of many ages. The play truly was for everyone; I felt that the adult humour scattered amongst the usual puns elevated the response from adults, the perfect way for parents to entertain their children while enjoying themselves too.

Having the music played live near the audience transformed the small theatre into the deep sea and tropical islands, putting us in the centre of the action! I appreciated being able to see the musicians and I found their sound effects exemplified the action on stage. As there were a lot of musical moments in the play, lifting pressure off of some of the more hectic moments, the audience was able to join in with the diverse concoction of old and new songs, sea-shanties to musicals! The voice of Erin Hayter, playing Juanita, was especially beautiful.

My favourite moments were certainly those featuring Daisy Jones (Jackie Barrat) the lurking, lingering, spine-tingling keeper of the undersea locker. Her voice effects echoed through the hearts of the audience, spreading eerie fear from all around. Her costume, though simple, was intricate and effectively created an unsettling presence on stage, amplified by the sickly green lighting accompanying her.

 Characters like charismatic Coral (Ryan Eames), playful Poll (Ruby Phillips), and faithful Friday kept the stage alive; the sporadic appearances of Skull-Duggery (Viv Evans) and Cross-Bones (Eddie Kittner) was engaging and caused a feeling of involvement for the audience. It was warming to see the excitement of the children as Cut-Throat (Trevor Young) showered them with golden coins despite their fear of walking the plank.

The first act was rather long, at 1.5 hours, which may be a concern for the older and younger audience members, as well as the young ensemble. However, it successfully allowed us to meet the characters and built tension for the rest of the story. The interval was spent in suspense, the audience eager to proceed, and the energy of the pantomime ensured that each minute was filled with laughter and smiles.

The aforementioned young ensemble were very talented and I found it a privilege to see the next generation of actors dazzle the stage with multiple costumes and dances, my favourite being glittering capes that caught the light and caused a mystical effect. The interaction between the young and senior ensemble was natural and the relationship between all on stage was easy and comfortable. I was very impressed to learn that Nicola Garrity was only playing Robison for one night, as her performance was enigmatic and entertaining! After the 3 hour performance, the cast still went to the effort of meeting with the audience in the foyer to take selfies and share in the joy created.

So, would I recommend this performance? Aye aye captain!