Retired journalist David Edwards recalls stories from his reporting days.
I USED to love covering pantomimes during my reporting years…
“Oh no you didn’t”
“Oh yes I did”
I well remember the panto time when I covered the first night of a performance of Cinderella. It was the scene of the Ball when everyone was awaiting the arrival of the Prince.
Suddenly one of the cast shouted, “Here comes the Prince.” No sign of the Prince. Another shout: “The Prince is coming.” Still no sign of the Prince. One more shout: “The Prince really is coming”. Finally the Prince appeared on stage.
And of course I will always remember the time I interviewed Pencoed-born comedian and TV’s Crossroads cast member Stan Stennett at his Cardiff home. Stan was a regular on the panto stage with his stuffed dog Bonzo.
Another memorable panto story I did was about a Pontypridd-based Women’s Institute back in 2013. Here it is…
“Members of a WI group decided to stage their own panto version of Cinderella with a difference. The cast included a town crier with a drink problem and a fairy godmother too old to “waft through walls”.
The women, who belong to the Pontypridd Women’s Institute, decided to create some stage fun and put on a panto called The Alternative Cinderella. The panto was staged at Pontypridd Museum and received a standing ovation from an audience of more than 50.
The audience were treated to the panto antics of a mincey princey, a town crier with a drink problem and a fairy godmother who travels by bus pass. There were two ugly sisters called Twigletta Brighter and Fatsima Dumb.
The panto was written, produced and directed by Sue Granelli. Set in the fair town of Pottypridd, the panto featured the Prince’s Ball taking place in the Municipal Hall. The offbeat tale concluded with Prince Charming ending up with both Ugly Sisters.
Former WI president Janet Jones said: “It was a chance for members to let their hair down and enjoy some stage fun. The panto went down so well that we may decide on staging another one in the future. You never know, we may get a booking for Broadway… not the one in New York, the one in Ponty.”
Another memorable panto story I did was about a Pontypridd-based Women’s Institute back in 2013. Here it is…
“Members of a WI group decided to stage their own panto version of Cinderella with a difference. The cast included a town crier with a drink problem and a fairy godmother too old to “waft through walls”.
The women, who belong to the Pontypridd Women’s Institute, decided to create some stage fun and put on a panto called The Alternative Cinderella. The panto was staged at Pontypridd Museum and received a standing ovation from an audience of more than 50.
The audience were treated to the panto antics of a mincey princey, a town crier with a drink problem and a fairy godmother who travels by bus pass. There were two ugly sisters called Twigletta Brighter and Fatsima Dumb.
The panto was written, produced and directed by Sue Granelli. Set in the fair town of Pottypridd, the panto featured the Prince’s Ball taking place in the Municipal Hall. The offbeat tale concluded with Prince Charming ending up with both Ugly Sisters.
Former WI president Janet Jones said: “It was a chance for members to let their hair down and enjoy some stage fun. The panto went down so well that we may decide on staging another one in the future. You never know, we may get a booking for Broadway… not the one in New York, the one in Ponty.”