‘IF YOU go down to HATS Theatre today you’re sure of a big surprise!’ This year’s HATS pantomime, ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ has been in full swing since last week and the director, Sarah O’Connor, has pulled off a spectacular pantomime with brilliant sets, dazzling costumes and amazing acts, thanks to cast and crew alike, writes Christine Williams.

In true pantomime fashion the dame, ‘Sophie Semolina Sawdust’, played by Peter Whitehead, arrives through the auditorium wearing an outlandish frock that ‘Jocko the clown’ (Cokes Hutchinson), thinks looks more like a hot air balloon!

Sophie admits she has spent all the circus’ takings on the dress and is now in a lot of trouble with ‘Gasper Grey’ (Phil Barfett), to whom she owes money. Everyone racks their brains to think of a way for the circus to make ends meet but it would appear to be in vain.

‘Goldilocks’, charmingly played by Hannah Cook, having run away from her evil guardian Gasper Grey, finds herself at Sophie’s circus and ‘Tommy’, the animal trainer, masterly acted by Kim Whiting, persuades Sophie to give her a job.

Meanwhile ‘Madame Zanrina’ the clairvoyant, played by Ellie Skuse, is working at the circus to watch over Goldilocks.

But Gasper and his henchmen ‘Swindle’ and ‘Filch’, played menacingly by Stuart Davey and by a whimpering Ron Lester, discover Goldilocks hiding at the circus, so she runs away again. This time she travels deep into the wood and stumbles upon the three bears’ cottage, where she proceeds to eat the porridge, break the furniture and mess up the beds!

After she has apologised to the bears, Zarina sprinkles her magic dust over the proceedings and ‘Mother Bear’ (Pam Johns), ‘Father Bear’ (Charles Jeffery-Hudson) and ‘Baby Bear’ (Eve Earles) come up with an idea to save the circus. After all, anyone would pay good money to see three bears tap dancing!

The circus now has new acts to enthral the crowds. Gloria’s death defying high wire balancing act, exquisitely executed by Bethany Lock, acrobats and the cast of tumbling clowns, hilariously performed by Sue Painter, Jo Taskis, Sarah O’Connor, Carol Wright, Jodie Law­son and Sue Shaw and of course the tap dancing bears. No one can resist a cute baby bear whose facial expressions and acting skills captivate the audience.

But those evil henchmen try to sabotage the proceedings. Gloria, falls, and the three bears are stolen and hidden at ‘Deadwater Manor’, the ancestral home of Goldilocks. The journey to find them takes Sophie, Gloria and Jocko through the woods where a ‘Gorilla’ (Jo Taskis) happens to live and inevitably pops out to meet them! But fortified by a drop of mother’s ruin they safely press on.

Ahead of them Madame Zarina has arrived at the manor and awoken the ancestors by spookily singing a new version of ‘Wuthering Heights’! This is a truly magnificent scene as the portraits come alive like something out of Harry Potter. ‘Edmund’ (Robert Painter), ‘Ermengarde’ (Sue Painter) and ‘Rufus’ (Alan Eyles), and his scolding grandmother played by Sue Shaw all play their part in frightening the baddies and saving the day.

Tommy is smitten by Goldilocks and engages in a swash buckling fight with Gasper to impress her. Mother bear helps capture Gasper and his henchmen with her handbag and amazingly all of Goldilocks’ ‘inheritance’ is found. No more worries for the circus and with much celebration, singing and dancing all ends happily.

Jodie Lawson has put together a breath-taking acrobatic routine of cartwheels, handstands and hoop tumbling and the versatile cast participate in a skilful display of choreography, directed by Sarah Potterton.

Musical director Michael Wonnacott not only leads the small orchestra but wittily engages with the audience. Every show depends on a large number of contributors who beaver away backstage to produce and install and light the sets and promote the show, selling tickets and ice cream, all of them a testament to another successful collaboration by Holsworthy Amateur Theatrical Society.

The show runs until Saturday evening [February 4] and a few tickets are still available.