So finally the terrible winter seems a distant memory. 3 months of rain, cold temperatures and all the festivities of the season are now over. The weather has broken and we have blue skies, long days, BBQs and temperatures in the high 20s. So what does that tell you? It's Panto Time! Oh no it isn't! Oh yes it is! If you live in Cómpeta it is.

The Hotel Balcon de Cómpeta was the summer venue for the pantomime, Cinderella in aid of CUDECA. A Panto with a difference and with a truly adult theme. You were warned! Now I must confess, amateur dramatics is something which can leave me a bit cold so with some trepidation I attended the Cómpeta Panto. Well, we were selling tickets so I had to! And I'm glad I did, what a great night.

Even before anyone entered (Oo, er, missus!) the stage you had to be impressed by the erection (Fnar, fnar!) of the impressive looking scenery. Apparently adorned with hidden messages, which I'm afraid were lost on me. Apart from a lovely pair of lemons (Oo, no! Stop it!).
The tone of what we had in store was heard with the first exchange of lines between Cinderella (Lisa Edelman)and the Ugly Sisters (Chester Williams and Ray Rowden)before they burst on stage in impressive costumes and make-up. Hydrangea and Antirrhinum certainly took ugly to a new level – sorry guys! Guys?! One of the great things about amateur dramatics, I think, is the different level of performance from the actors and of course the missed lines. It adds to the whole thing and for those confident enough to do so, fill the embarrassing silences with ad-libbing. This Panto didn't disappoint. In fact I reckon Baroness Hardup (Chris Fulleylove) had no script and ad-libbed her way through most of the show to cover hers and her fellow actors' mistakes. True, quality stand-up stuff.

Dandini (Peter van der Water) delivered his non-stop barrage of testosterone fuelled lines (when he could remember them), like a Dutch Lord
Flashheart in Blackadder Goes Forth - “Woof, woof!” – whilst Roger the Prince (Ben Alford) sounded suspiciously like Prince George in Blackadder the Third. A mention has to be given to The Fairy Godmother (Kelly Maynard) with a difference – she was well the wicked Fairy Godmother, innit tho'!

I think it's always difficult to single out anybody for their performances as everybody adds something to the whole show but I do think particular mention has to go to Lisa Edelman as Cinderella and Jo Robinson as the Queen. Two excellent performances worthy of a bigger stage – Torrox Cultural Centre here you come! I could go on (I normally do) and mention every unique performance, which added to this very entertaining show but unfortunately I'm limited by space and apart from that those mentioned paid me the most.

Every Panto, of course, is never complete without the audience interacting with the players. On the Saturday night I attended they certainly played their part. From the “oh no it's nots” delivered like precision rehearsed lines, the audience members who clearly thought they weren't meant to stay in their seats but join the actors on stage and those who gave such a performance off-stage the only possible conclusion was 'exit stage left' with some gentle persuasion. On other nights some felt a voluntary exit was in order having mis-understood the term 'Adult Version'. And finally an audience member in her 80s who apparently flew in especially from Yorkshire to see the show. She would have felt at home with the array of Northern accents in evidence on stage.

If you missed this Panto you missed out. Everyone had clearly worked hard from the actors, to behind scenes, to front of house and unfortunately too numerous to mention. However, special mention has to be given to Tom Sobel for his direction and Debi Bond for production. At the time of writing €5000 has been raised with one show to go, a truly sterling effort. Oh yes it is!

Alick Howard