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The Hobbit |
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adapted by Andy Evans, directed by Emma Nicholson and Andy Evans
A cast of 42 young stars playing more than 80 roles brought Tolkeins tale of The Hobbit to life in a very enjoyable opening night performance.
It was a credit to the enormous hard work put in by the members of the Caxton Youth Theatre during three weeks of the summer holidays.
The packed full house enjoyed many set pieces with the puppetry of Smaug the dragon and the trolls especially impressive.
The excellent costumes by Shirley Nicholson and her team, alongside clever use of masks and make-up, helped create an atmosphere that held true to the traditional story, in which there were many performances of note.
Daniel McCallum as Bilbo was brilliant. His dialogue and facial expressions were very much the Bilbo Baggins that I first read so many years ago and he kept the pace moving throughout.
I also enjoyed Adam Powell's Gollum. His movement and vocal delivery showed tremendous skill and the make-up by Danny Tuck was remarkable.
Tim Henton as Gandalf was mature and commanding, while Ben Evardson as Thorin the chief dwarf is highly commended. Tom Finch was a classy Master of Laketown and an excellent Troll, well supported by Alanagh Lawlor as Bard the bowman. A special mention also goes to Chris Nicholl, playing a slick Troll and Smaugenfurter the Dragon.
There were one or two opening night glitches with sound balance and nervous lost lines, but it didn't really matter. The important thing was to enjoy and respect the incredible effort put into the show by the youngsters themselves and their leaders and support staff.
This production of the Hobbit is a celebration of how the seemingly impossible can be achieved when the will is there. It was big, bold and demanding and yet it flowed. Forty-odd young people working in unison, the majority making their stage debut was a superb team effort. Every congratulation is due to Andy Evans and Emma Nicholson for their direction.
The Hobbit continues tonight and tomorrow at the Cleethorpe Road Theatre, before these young stars set out to defend their title of defending champions at the annual Skegness Drama Festival against youth teams from around the country.
CAST: narrators, Sammy Hunter and Jamie Evans; Bilbo, Danny McCallum; Gandalf, Tim Henton; Thorin, Ben Evardson; dwarves, Holly Carmichael, Katie Coulthwaite, Ellis Barnbrook, Michael Hobbins, Gareth Arthurs, Charlotte Fell, Hannah Willis, Colette Stirling, Vicky Todd, Richard Priday, Matthew Till and Marc Johnson; Gollum and spider, Adam Powell; troll, goblin and Smaug, Chris Nicholl; Elrond, Gemma Quickfall; troll, goblin and Laketown master, Tom Finch; troll, goblin and townsfolk, Brett King. Bard, Alanagh Lawlor; elven king, Heather Pearson; goblin king, Steph Wood; elf guards, Amy Burrows and Dani Bolton; elves, goblins and townsfolk, Hannah Ramsden, Vicky Bolton, Stevie Osbourne, Rebecca Robinson, Amanda Robinson, Rachelle White, Gemma Clark, Olivia Hogger, Rachel Evison, Kirsty Dodge, Nicola Woolhead, Megan Colebrook, Gary Pearson, Luke Ling and Jordan Hobbins.
STAFF: writer and director, Andy Evans; director and producer, Emma Nicholson; youth leader, photographer and sound designer, Scott Middleton; youth leader and lighting technician, Samantha Wright; wardrobe and props, Shirley Nicholson, Helen Nicholson and Hilary Cole; puppet building, Alan Nicholson, lighting design, John Abe. |
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