South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 23 February 1952
Pleasing Pantomime
A Splendid Show at Denaby
The pantomime “Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood,” has been given in Denaby church hall each night this week and there have been appreciative audiences. Last night (Thursday) almost all the seats were sold and tonight (Friday), the last night, only a few odd seats remain.
The cast is composed of members of the various organisations of the church and, as usual, the humorous interludes are excellently given by that band of versatile artists, the Choirmen, who have now established themselves as favourites.
The pantomime is well staged, there are pretty costumes and there are two very fine painted scenes.
June Smith has repeated her success of last year and in the principal role of Robin Hood she is very successful. Maid Marion is daintily portrayed by Pat Donoghue, who has a sweet singing voice and looks very attractive in her part. Jack Downing as Little John is quite suited to the part and enters fully into the spirit of the play. Alan Dale is portrayed by Eric Joyner who also entertains in his usual style with a popular song. The Bold Bad Baron is in the capable hands of Mr. Cyril Milner, who is also to be congratulated upon the production of the show and on the smart scripts he wrote for the interlude scenes.
The humour of the show is in the hands of Ken Collins as the Nurse and the Rev. A. V. Roebuck and Alfred Hinton as the Robber Villains and they are much applauded for their splendid performance of difficult parts. The fight scene between the two robbers causes great fun.
Other principal parts which are exceedingly well performed include Sir Richard (Tom Collingham), Friar Tuck (Pat Downing), King (John Jeffcote), Jester (Gerald Downing), Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Wheeliker), Joan Smith (Fairy Queen) David Lambert, as The Landlord, and last, but not least, Betty and Billy (The Babes) winsomely portrayed by Pamela Burdett and Vera Ackrill.
Misses M. Roberts, J. Westwood, M. Eyre and I. Wordsworth take the parts of Robin Hood’s men and the Misses Margaret Milner, Patricia Burdett, Jean Theaker, Joan Holland, Joy Ford, Jean Taylor, Sheila MacDonald, and Sylvia Walker are Villagers, Fairies and Elves are Bernice Clark, Pamela Kirkham, Anne Roberts, Mavis Taylor, Jean Thompson, Julia Williams, Joyce Walker, Alm Jeffcote Norma Bamtry JeanHill, Nini Downing, Sheila Cowling, June Bond and Freda Dudhill.
The dancing by these young people is very good and reflects credit on Mrs. E. A. Roebuck. The interludes between scenes are given by Messrs E. Sheldrake, G. Sheldrake, N. Wilkinson, T. Biggin, A. Hinton, E. Joyner, J. Downing, K. Collins and P. Webb.
The scripts are composed by C. Milner and contain many local references, wittily arranged. The musical side of the show is ably arranged and supplied by Mrs. A. E. Pickett and friends from Mexborough and Conisbrough. The scenery was done by Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Breeze of Suffolk (during their Christmas holiday with the Vicar and Mrs. Roebuck). Mrs. Breeze is sister to Mrs. Roebuck. Lighting effects are by Jack Downing and costumes by Mesdames C. Milner, L. Williams, K. Collins, M. Pearson and Theatrical Supplies. Producer is Cyril Milner.
The proceeds are for Church Funds.