South Yorkshire Times January 3, 1959

Kilnhurst Amateurs in Lively Pantomime

The trials of an opening performance played before a sparse albeit appreciative audience are enough to cool the enthusiasm of the most ardent company, but this week at Wath Grammar School Kilnhurst Amateur Theatrical Society have mixed together the ingredients of slapstick, well seasoned gags and popular melodies to form a lively and often amusing version of “Robinson Crusoe’

Accent is on comedy, with that humorist, George Kirton, impelled by the caprice of mischief – an unflagging source of laughter. He is ably abetted by Ernest Fisher and the couple imbue this pantomime escapade with seasonable gaiety

Owing to unforeseen circumstances the Society have been unable to present the originally planned special effect sequences, and there is evidence of the consequent last minute revision in the hesitant continuity of the production.

Bill Shirley creates an admirable Dame Crusoe and is devastatingly funny, when glamorously robed, he seductively dances to provoke the Momentary admiration of the island king (Frank Gladwin). Shades of George Lacy here!

Charm and dignity come in the delightful presence of Mary Bamford as Crusoe and Audrey Edwards as Polly Perkins, who sing and dance engagingly to tell their romantic story of the shipwreck with the happy sequel.

The modish June Edwards is suitably commanding as the Captain of the “Saucy Sally,” and the children, Mary Sexton, Margaret Bamford, Carol Rawson, Julie Gill, Grace Dobson and Patricia Jenny are a company of fine little troupers and excel in their dance interpretation of the “jazzed twenties” — “Ain’t She Sweet ?’—complete with fluttering hands and the heel-tapping twenties of the Charleston — the twenties’ equivalent of rock ‘n’ roll.

The society spurn the modern age of speciality items in pantomime and the only deviation from the plot is a brisk, brief but welcome, interval of songs this resented by Frank Gladwin.

The chorus work attains moments of excellence, particularly in the hornpipe scene, but does not maintain the standard and the principles are often ill supported by incoherent background voices.

The musical direction by Eric Gordon is sound, but there is a regrettable tendency to overwhelm some of the singing with too strident an accompanist.

Others appearing in this production are Rowland Oliver, Susan Horne, Alan Miller, John Brocklebank, Rowlands Gill and John Oliver.

Ladies of the chorus are Marie  Mason, Ada Carnell, Brenda Dungworth, Margaret Hall, Jane Gill, Dinah Whittaker and Jennifer Foulstone. This

Production is by Tom Bamford. Dancing mistress is June Edwards and the accompanist Eddie Trickett

South Yorkshire Times January 3, 1959