Oh, what a Kalamity!
'KLONDIKE KALAMITY', performed by the Compton Players, from April
13 to 15
A HOST of colourful characters trod the boards in true melodramatic
style in the Compton Players' latest production Klondike Kalamity.
Set somewhere in the Yukon territory in 1888, it had all the ingredients
so vital to melodrama: love, greed, deceit, revenge, lost and found relatives
and, as always, good triumphing over evil.
A pure and chaste maid (Nell Oudt) was revealed alone in a remote cabin.
Her only company was the daily visit of Bruno the Bear at her window.
Soon poor Nell was joined by her father (Warren Oudt) returning with meagre
supplies, having tramped miles through the snow.
As Nell, Jasmine Gartshore played her role with charm and innocence. Considering
this was her first role with the players, it was an impressive debut.
Conversely, Robertson Bell used his considerable experience to great effect
as Warren Oudt, bringing much humour to the proceedings.
No one ever came to their cabin, until then at least, but as the plot
unfolded, we were inundated with visitors. Roger B Upright, a disgraced
mountie on the run was played in true lantern-jaw style by Scott Hulme;
Fangduster T Barrelbottom VIII, the despicable villain of the piece (boo),
was excellently played by David McKenzie with deep south drawl, and Farley
Goodbody (Brenda Prior) was a woman disguised as a man, being the amnesic
long-lost wife of Warren Oudt.
The plot thickened. Fangduster had plenty of nasty tricks up his sleeve,
but nothing that couldn't be dealt with by Roger B Upright, and the next
arrivals: Chief Wapakonetta (Nick Roberts - more cheers), Gwendoline Oudt
(Fiona Mackay), Justice Dunn (Paul Shave) and Prince K'nook (Philip Prior
- even more cheers).
The cabin scene was perfect, but the sawmill with the black masking cloths
was not up to standard. The many effects, however, were well handled and
the spirit of melodrama well maintained.
Director Enid Farr is to be congratulated for giving the young actors
a chance to act in a full-scale production. The audience thoroughly enjoyed
the twists and turns and the offbeat humour left us all thoroughly entertained.
TREVOR DOBSON
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