It’s Preston Panto time again (From Dorset Echo)

It’s Preston Panto time again

12:15pm Tuesday 24th January 2012 in Community

As promised, I dropped into the Village Hall to catch a glimpse of a Sunday evening rehearsal of ‘Bluebeard’ by the Preston Pantomime Group Panto.

The cast, an even mix of experience and youth, were being put through their dance paces by Chris Galpin, in fine voice as ever!

In one corner of the Hall a giant bed was taking shape, and in another the sewing team were laying out the costumes.

After a break for tea – they had been hard at work well before I arrived – and some delicious looking homemade cakes brought by Sian Oliphant, Producer Tricia Dunford called them to order for a run through of Act Two.

Now I can’t pretend I knew what was going on – it was explained (?) that Baron Bluebeard wants to marry one of Mr Rockbottom’s two daughters but, not getting the one he thought, he sets out for revenge – but even without knowing the plot it was very funny indeed, a high spot being the dance between Lindsey Maton and Darrin Hall.

If, as they apologised, they hadn’t had time to rehearse it much, then it should be spectacular on the night! This year the Dame is Chris Cole, one of nine youngsters moving up from the Preston Pantomime Kids. Chris told me he has some experience of appearing in public in ladies clothing from a previous PPK panto, and was looking forward to opening night.

Performances take place on Tuesday 14 February to Saturday 18 February at 7.30pm and tickets (£5 per adult, £3 for children) can be obtained by ringing 834410.

Recent excavations in Sutton Poyntz are the theme of an event being organised by the Sutton Poyntz History Group.

This will take place in the Mission Hall on Wednesday 8 February at 7.30pm and will comprise talks by the archaeologists who have been carrying out digs (I know the technical terms!) in the village over the last few years.

There have been some very interesting discoveries, so if you would like to learn about these from the experts themselves, contact Dot Emblen for tickets, at only £1 each which also entitles you to a glass of wine.

Another event taking place in the Mission Hall is a second ‘Question Time’.

A carefully selected panel - Pru Bollam, President of the Weymouth Civic Society, Tom Munro, Dorset AONB Manager, David Evans, W&PBC Environment Director and Brian Ellis, Dorset County Councillor – will answer questions from the audience at 7.30pm on Wednesday 15 February.

Tickets at £2.50, and a question pro-forma, are available from any committee member – see the Village website for these.