This review of the show appeared in the parish newsletter in February 2003

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THE GREAT CATSKINSVILLE BUNFIGHT 

 Filkins Theatre Pantomime

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   The Great Catkinsville Bunfight had everything - a real romp designed to make one forget the chill winds of January. A huge cast, with ages spanning nearly eighty years, carried us along with the foot-tapping familiar Western tunes. A wonderful duo of failed bank robbers (Christopher Harrison and Pat Scott) gave a comically poignant rendering of ‘Home Sweet Home’, as well as startling us with their enormous exploding bun. Linda Young was a convincing Saloon Madam, courageously ignoring the pain of the broken wrist sustained the day of the first performance.

   The ladies of The Temperance League came miraculously to life, rescued by the magic of Lily the Pink’s medicinal compound - in fact its influence seemed to spread to the audience who came away in the best of spirits. The two Jeremys had a whale of a time; Jeremy Irwin-Singer relished his role as the seductive Ma Pretzelbender, playing the audience quite shamelessly, and Jeremy Taylor’s General Cowardly Custard was suitably military. The audience enjoyed his Gilbert and Sullivan "Major General" lyrics - a wonderfully choreographed touch as ladies of the cast popped out from the curtains for the refrain, snappily drilled!

   Abigail Schultz was a confident Calamity Jane, ably supported by her doting swain Eleanor Martin. The young Red Indians did very well - a promising bunch of talent there. How could they go wrong with names like Running Nose and Falling Pants!

   So we come to the witty writing - a combined effort - and the excellent producing and directing by Pat Clark and Pam Assiter. Pam also pattered about the stage as the Indian Squaw Old Nokomis, but she was not too old to charm the impressive Medicine Man, Senna Pod! It was curiously satisfying to hear Ken Reeves giving the benefit of his rich voice to the part of Dan D. Ruff - and he enjoyed his task of softening the frosty Miss Agrippina Firmly (Annabel Molyneaux); her husband Paul Molyneaux, playing the sonorous Sheriff, did not intervene!

   A special moment for the doyennes of Filkins Theatre - Dorki Heselwood and Eileen de Brandt, solemnly treading the boards, although as Ma Pretzelbender said, "They have no Speaking Parts"! A last mention of the music which kept everything swinging along; it was ably provided by Mike Clark and a welcome old friend, Shirley Coates, with Andy Hoad concentrating on the timing of the special effects.

   I haven’t mentioned everyone who took part - the mule and the card-playing cowhands, and lots more: if you didn’t see it, borrow a programme and see for yourself all those names involved in this mammoth and hugely enjoyed production. Well done, Filkins Theatre.!