NEWBURY YOUNGSTARS PRODUCTION– CAPTAIN HOOK’S REVENGE

I was invited to attend the YoungStars latest production Captain Hook’s Revenge at the Arlington Arts Centre at Mary Hare School on the evening of 1 February and, having been to a previous production, I was delighted to accept. Edwina Cooper and I arrived and met Sarah Scott-Cound, responsible with Ann Harris for the Front of House operation. We were shown to our seats and Act 1 began with the Pirate Ship with six pirates singing, appropriately enough, “What shall we do with the drunken sailor” They looked very much the part and Captain Hook came on, complete with a hook and a patch on his eye. I knew then that this was to be a great show. There was a total of five scenes in the act and there some great songs including Never smile at a crocodile and jokes which included one aimed at the Mayor of Newbury. I didn’t think I was one of the baddies. One joke I do remember was of the cannibal who went on holiday and when he returned, he had only one leg. On being asked how he had lost it, he replied that it was a self-catering holiday! I shall move on. After the interval, Act 2 began and there were four scenes in it. The plot of course was all about Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. In addition to the pirates were the Darling family, comprising Dotty Darling, Wendy and Michael, the latter who gave a strong performance of a public school boy; two rats, bubonic and plague ; eight redskin squaws including Running Water, Owlhooter and Waftfeather; three redskins, Passingwater, skunkfeather and slugbucket ; and I must not forget the crocodile and the Old Crone. The costumes were wonderfully created and colourful, the singing and acting were polished and confident and the whole production was very funny and entertaining.
We thought it was a great evening and all credit goes to the entire cast, the Director, Choreographer, and the Musical Director as well as the front of house staff and those volunteers and parents, who in their own way helped to make this a splendid evening. I can hardly wait for their next production.