Panto Goes West or The Ballad of Hamster Gulch
Aunt Calamity under threat in the Hamster Gulch Saloon. Photo: Neil Wilson.
Badman Jake McCabe has a cunning plot on the go, involving gun-running, kidnapping and an all-out plains war between the people of Hamster Gulch and the Indian tribe headed by Big Chief Running Buffet. Jake has his beady eye on the gold that lies hidden in the sacred mountain.
All is not lost, however. Enter the hero, Texas Ranger, who, along with Clint Cougar and his Aunt Calamity, will save the day.
All the time-honoured elements of pantomime are present in the Takaka Drama Society’s latest production, The Ballad of Hamster Gulch: a talking horse; excruciating puns, misunderstandings and double entendres; fabulous costumes; a dame who’s a bloke and a best boy who’s a girl; age-old stereotypes and musical accompaniment.
Director Gillian Cunningham has assembled a cast of experienced performers and brand-new talent for the show that opens on Wednesday 13 May and runs until Saturday 23 May.
Writer Richard Lloyd is well-known for his pantomimes and has been credited with revitalising the genre.
Neil Wilson
