POWICK Parish Ramblers have cancelled all their walks for the time being because of the Foot & Mouth outbreak.

This year's village pantomime lived up to all expectations - there would be a Principal Boy - Dick Whittington (Mary King) and of course the famous cat (Mike Washbourne), a beautiful girl Alice (Karen Davies), a glamorous Dame (Dave Smedley) and a cast of many! Ably directed by Joy Hadley with choreography by Gay Boswell, Dick Whittington was a production worthy of the high reputation that M & M Productions has built up over the years. The opening chorus - numbering no less than 12 members of the cast - set the scene in the London Dockyards with songs of Old London. Alderman Fitzwarren (Andy Lamb) and his trusty Bosun Bowlegs (Derek Stokes) were recruiting sailors for a voyage on his ship with the Ship's Cook, Sarah, played with great aplomb by Dave Smedley. The song If I loved you was tenderly sung by Derek Stokes to woo the Dame who played to the audience. The force of evil was established early in the pantomime with wicked Esmerelda (Naomi Reed) and her evil side kick King Rat (John Manton), who transformed Fairy Bowbells (Poppy King) into a ginger cat. Dick Whittington befriended the cat, fell in love with Alice and sought employment on the ship. Alderman Fitzwarren persuaded a very convincing Girl Guide Captain (Jenny Taylor) to be the Ship's Captain. Audience participation was an essential ingredient:- from the response to "Captain" came the shout "Aye, Aye, Sir"; the audience joined in the hand jive to the song Stay young & beautiful sung by Alice and the Dame. The comic due 'I' and 'Spy' kept up their dotty humour playing the sleuths disguised as sailors. John Hadley 'I' was the 'camp; one, a foil for the 'brains' of Keith Lewis (Spy). They also formed the camel (full marks to Debbie Steele on her making of the two humped pantomime camel).

The Rats (Rhys Coles, Tom King and Jimmy Steele) took their orders from King Rat to the boos and hisses of the audience. The chorus sang nautical songs including We're riding along on the crest of a wave in their neat sailor's costumes, pitching and rolling on board ship. But the ship's cook, aided and abetted by 'I & Spy', juggled with eggs, making an explosive cake which caused the ship to sink to the accompaniment of Alice (Karen Davies) singing the Titanic theme song, as the young dancers (Claire Boswell, Amy Manton, Kate Penny, Poppy King, Helen Wash-bourne) represented the waves.

Washed up on the Sultan's beach, the crew were imprisoned, chained and manacled by guards Mick Williams and William Coles, at the instruction of the Sultan (John Foy) and the inimitable 'Jeeves' (Robert Floyd). The sumptuous setting of the Sultana's boudoir and harem set the scene for an exotic belly dance display by the harem girls, and Melanie Hayes (Maneeta, the Sultana).

The day was saved by Dick and his cat who attacked King Rat and threw the wicked Esmerelda to the sharks. And everyone lived happily ever after: Dick became Lord Mayor of London and got his girl, and sang the duet I could be happy with you with Alice, accompanied by a splendid tap dance by Amy Manton.

The props (produced by Krys Lamb and Fran Foy) were superb; costumes (by Debbie Steele) excellent; and the lighting (by Rob Davies, Harvey Reed, Geoff Grainger) created the atmosphere. The band, under the Musical Director Stephen Watkins, provided the sound effects and accompaniments on piano; guitar (Dave Whyman), saxophone (Hugh Thomas), trumpet (Dave Bishop-Rowe), drums (Brian Stokes). Make up was by Marilyn Baddeley and Nicola Hadley.

It was good to see the experienced actors and newcomers in the chorus including Barbara Washbourne, Elissa Manton and Penny Holehouse, and especially pleasing to see so many youngsters prepared to display their talents in this genuine village production. With special thanks to the front of house staff and well done to all concerned.