2008 Programme - Harby Harlequins

Harby Harlequins
present
their 10th Annual Pantomime 2008
The Thnee
Musketeers
Programme f,I

Director's Notes
It wos summer 1638. A young shepherd boy, Athos
Dwet wos pondulating, but soon, the pond-wos full.
oWhcrc's tiod?"'Hcts gonc to plnck o shccp for
yorr tco'cqme his mothei's re-ply.-But you dm't pluck
ihccp" prompted the boy. Yorr'll lcorn lad. . y*'ll
lcorrd" With thot Athos vowed never to eot shepherds'
pie ogoin.
Shortly ofterwords ,tierewos o clipperty clop of coconut shells os Atfios'
friendj Porthos ond Cortos come fo ploy. Porthos wos a lonely child, o
meon ond conniving schemer from Long Clqwson. Coltos wos pretty thick
too, but come froir welt-to-do porentJ down Wolnut Poddock who wore Y
fronts ond "ChoneJ No5"...... on unuSuol combinotion, but his mother wos
just os bormy....but on thof momentous doy they pledged to f ight! To
iight in;ustice, to f ight inequolity, to fight-inconsistency .5o.they went
inio poniomime os T6e Thrcc iAuskctearsll ...oh no they didn't!
Thc Story? We meet Cqdiinql Richlow: Greedy, slelY,leering, sneer.
ing, monipulating womoniser: next Lobour party condidate for Stomford
WZst......who wonts to rule Fronce by getting rid of King
Louis XII, Louis XIIf , the Musketeers,ond the Parish ": '.
Council ......(mt o conplctcly nisguidcd ruwlutionory
then?). To this endhecontrives to employ-the dostoidly,
yes dostordly, Boron Fritz wn Fnrgglcbcryer
(lives on Boyers Orchord) ond his henchmen Brickh ond
Rochc. Not'o pretty sight! By foir meons or the other
sort, they vow to steol \he Gotcou Topcfi". Will
they succeed? Will the Musketeers stop forting. obout ond come up
trumps? There we leave this tole of intrigue until someone findly remembers
their lines.....
The Horleguins ore o most unigue ond talented group of people' Almost
the entirecomPony live within 3 miles of thevilloge holl. This hos severol
odvontogas...its hirndy for reheorsols, eosy for locol contocts ond tley
con oll itogger home'when legless. Thonks to everyone concerned for
their heli-ond support in whot I know will be o remorkoble
production...(words .hos"n ccrefully...) Eddie Lilley
2

The Three
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
Scene 6
Scene 7
Scene 8
Scene 9
Scene 10
Act One
A street in Paris outside the 'Rouge Lion'
Outside the Musketeers' Hall
The Musketeers' Quarters
Outside the 'Rouge Lion'
Acf Two
The Royal Ball at the Palace of Versailles
On the street
The Bar at the 'Rouge Lion'
Outside the 'Rouge Lion'
A Bedroom at the 'Rouge Lion'
Finale
There will be an interval with refreshments between Acts One and TWo
tu
Thanks to
for printing the Programmes
Caricatures Cartoons Illustrations
emaif kevi nb*ken@talKalk.net
Te,. 01949 860081
w.KBArt.6.uk
for the illustrations

The Three
MusketeeYs
Written and Directed by Eddie Lilley
Cast in order of aPPearance:
Constable Hoskins
Planchet
D'Artagnan
StellaArtois
Athos
Porthos
Big Louis
Little Louis
Louis Drambuie
Cartos
Captain Del Monte
Humphrey
Dougal
Cardinal Richlove
Baron Fruggleberger
Briekh
Roche
Madame PumPernickel
Richard PumPernickel
King Louis XII / King Louis XIII
Queen
Young Musketeers
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Richard Hedley
Helen Hubbard
HelenaWright
Clare Bell
Paul Steward
Roger De Silva
Martin Olley
Ann Lilley
Emily Featherstone
Rob King
Sally Fagan
Andy Buck
Nick Goff
Jonathan Neale
Kevin Becken
Anne Wheatley
Verity King
Robin Stapleford
Len Potter
Jack Scarborough
Maria O'Reilly
Beatrice King
Rebecca Morris
Charlotte O'Donnell
Matthew O'Donnell
Michael Walker

lAemorab I e lyloments f rom
Harlequins' History
This year we celebrate our tenth annual pantomime. In that time the Harlequins have
gone from strength to strength, building on every aspect ofourperformance. we still
have a number of people who have been with ui from the start: Eddie of course (our
esteemed writer/director), Richard, paul andAnn (who have all been in ev"ry p-to_
mime),_ and Helen (ttyuu-a_ra) and Roger (although they haven,t actuallyGen in
every show). Eddieb Highlights.... the continued and inireased support of the audience,
the growing enthusiasm and professionalism within the group and the overall
camaraderie of the people involved. Disappointmenrs: Not hav-irrg ih" n.* prorp..t
of a new village hall!
And here are some memorable moments from cast members old and new!:
Kevln:, The party is the best bit! I also remember jumping out of my skin when the
explosion went offright next to me in Robin Hoodt
Rob: Have there been any? oh yes, snogging Robin in the wizard of Hose!
Len: The relief of getting throrgh the first act of my first panto! I actually only
came down to bring my granddaughter - and that was-5 pant-os ago! And my catc[
phrase is now 'Is it me? Am I on?'
clgle:._I 19""a playing wishee washee inAladdin. I couldn,r stop laughing at myself
with the funny voice. The faces of the audience enjoying themsetve-siust makes
it for me...and and seeing so many m91 enjorins *eariog fi-shnets and high heels!
Helena: Defrnitely being Smudge, with a hump and the stripey socks...
sally: The wicked witch in the wizard of Hose was definiiely my favourite part -
very cruella de vil. It was great stress therapy being nasty all jvening - and nobody
ever minded!
Robin: As Long John Silver in Treasure Island I had to cut offRoger's (false) hand
with a sword. on the last night I clapped him on the back, and hiihand'refl oml
Jack: when Beatrice came on too early for the finale in the wizard of Hose
Eddie: WhenAnn didn't come on at all!!
!9191:
Trying to mix brown paint for the scenery for the first ever show, and then
Eddie saying 'Light blue.-..no, light blue.....no, [ightblue....no tightbhte),
Helen, verity and Emily-: Definttely using chocolate fingers ur rdu*. before eating
them at all the rehearsals.
_ Thankl go to.the following f.or exlrycting more money out of you
Front of House! (Rest assured it wirt herp uZ build the nZw viilogL iail)
Sue Steward
Ruth De Silva
Ali Morris
Emily Morris
Sarah Shipman
Jasper Knott
Teja Woods
Simon Thornton
Nick Baxter
5

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HELENA WRIGHT : D'Artagnan
Helena cheers us all up once more with her relentless smiling and
keeps the cast bubbling (or should I say babbling?)- As potential
nei recruit to the glamorous Musketeers, Helena plays
D'Artagnan with intelligence, diguity and honour - characteristics
definitely wasted on this lot.
CLARE BELL : StellaArtois
Another favourite Harlequin returns to entertain us playing bright
and shiny Stella, still eagirly waiting to be swept o{her fe-etby a
handsome Musketeer. Will this be her night? You'llmarvel at the
sight of Clare enthusiastically polishing her knockers. Clare playgd
Siella in our original version of this panto, so has had 8 years in
which to perfect this Part!
IIELEN I{UBBARD : Planchet
A Harlequins original player, Helen may even play the audience
this time too, to surre lier a seat. Helen once again gives a super!
and sensitive but thigh-slapping performance as man-seryant and
gentleman Planchet that we can only describe as "Cobblers!"
PAUL STEWARD : Athos
Paul has been in every one of our 10 pantomimes. As he was
Athos in the original musketeers, you'd have thought he'dlave
had no trouble with the words, but they still come out with a funny
accent (fortunately more French than anything else!). Yght years
on, he still reckons that he has what it takes to charm the ladies'
ROGERDE SILVA: Porthos
Roger plays the serious thinker Porthos, but is not averse to
*inOi"g up the gullible Cartos. All through rehearsals he seems
to have been pra-tising genn warfare on all the other unsuspectinS
cast. Come the performances, audience beware! But will his
superior intellectual powers enable him to outwit the baddies?
ROB KING : Cartos
What can we say about Rob? Debonair, suave' handsome?
Probably oot " of these things, but at least he has reformed his
'baddie; character of last year to become the lovable strong-man,
if somewhat dim-witted, third Musketeer Cartos.

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ROBIN STAPLEFORD : Madame Pumpernickel
The prestigious Gasleak Theatre Co. player has lost Robin
this year to the temptation of the Harlequins. After having
wom a pink dress with us last year, Robin eagerly, some say
desperately, seized the opportunity this year to play the girlie
Dame with a big heart. On stage Robin becomes a new man'
and gives a new dimension to "Men in Tights"!
LEN POTTER: Richard PumPernickel
Len is a joy to behold with supreme and confident mastery of
his lines, except when he's on stage. Once again he gives a
stalwart performance as a reliable and patient characteq who
subtlely gives as good as he gets - this is where the boundary
between life and panto starts to blur.
JONATHAN NEALE : Cardinal Richlove
Always a pleasure to welcome Jonathan as he sweeps back to
our stage to play Richlove, an evil conspirator intent on ruling
the whole ofFrance and scaring the daylights out of small
children and those of a fragile disposition. So you have been
warned!
KEVIN BECKEN : Baron Fruggleberger
Kevin couldn't resist swapplng his bumbling French accent
from last year to an evil German accent this year, and he's
even acquired two henchmen on the way. But will the three
of them be a match for our three brave and fearless musketeers?
ANNE WHEATLEY: Briekh
Welcome back this year to Anne as Briekh, whose comedy
duo with Roche seems intent to bring blood-vessel busting
torment to the Baron. Anne is also the costume departnent so
if her performance is somewhat lively it might just be pins
and needles.
VERITY KING: Roche
Harlequins are privileged to gain the talents of this Newark
Youth Theafie and Melton's Gasleak Theatre Company drama
queen! Verity effortlessly plays the witless idiot Roche, a cobaddie
with wicked intentions, but you have to laugh.

RICHARD IIEDLEY : Constable Hoskins
Richard again masterfully directs the music and songs, and disowns
responsibility for the quality of the actors' voices. He drives the proceedings
as narrator, songster, and social commentator, explaining
the confusing bits - so you'll see him frequently. But quite what i
1960s PC is doing in 17th Century France - only Eddie knows!
SALLYFAGAN : Captain Del Monte
The Captain of the King's Musketeers is a master at organising and
ordering the troops into battle, and that's Sally just preparing for the
show! As Del Monte, Sally says "l'ES" and we hopathe audience
does too. Sally pleaded to play a woman this year, and as punishment
for this insolence again plays a strong male - but will she 6e in tights?
M@
TIIE FIVE (OTHER) MUSKETEERS Qeft to right)
MARTIN OLLEY: Big Louis
Newcomer Martin is the real professional in our midst. As well as playing Mr Bumbleat
the Theatre Royal, he's a TV 'extra', having 'staned'in such preitigious shows
as Crossroads, Doctor in the House and Blue Murder. Look out for himioon in The
Royal Today! Perhaps he could give us lessons!
ANN LILLEY : Littte Louis
As Big Louis' little big brother, little Ann has been showing big Martin the little
ropes and the big entrances, whilst she struggles to keep up with hii big strides in the
little march that our big band play. Maybe she just needs to *"ur so--e high heels!
EMILYJENKINS : Louis Drambuie
Last year as our reporter, Emily battled against an offrcious Frenchman, and now, as
one of our brave musketeers, she has become one herself. certainly her tough musketeer
training will stand her in good stead in her day job as a teaiher!
ANDY BUCK : Humphrey
It's nice to see our occasional Harlequin Andy back on stage - that's in the occasional
pantomime and coming to the occasional rehearsal! still, he plays the camp
Humphrey to perfection. I wonder ifhe really wields a steam iron as weli as he says!
NICK GOFF : Dougal
Nick begged Eddie to be given thepartof the hippie musketeer Dougal. well, to be
fair, as a teenager he was probably halfiray there inyway, so it does save energy on
the need to act, but sometimes he's so laid back he almost seems horizontal!
8

SCARBOROUGH and
MARIA O'REILLY: The King and Queen
Thursday 17th January was a red letter day. Jack finally
put his script down and there was a big cheer for the king!
It's great to see Jack developing his confidence on the
w&JACK
stage in his second year with a speaking part. Maria is
new to the Harlequins, but is no stranger to the stage (well at least up to the age of
12)! With her mother running a dance school, Maria was well versed in ballet, tap
and acrobatics. Just a slight lapse since then! But maybe she should have been a
Musketeer. We're sure she would have made a better job of the Musketeers'March!
(From left to right) REBECCAMORRIS, BEATRICE KING'
MATTHEW O'DONNELL, CITARLOTTE O'DONNELL
MICHAEL WALKER: The Young Musketeers
THE PRODUCTION TEAM (cloclrwise from top left)
@KMMX@
JOHN I\rES
MARTIN FAGAN
ANNE WIIEATLEY
IIELEN EAGAN
JUDITH NEALE
MIKE NEALE
JO IVES
Also......
PHIL GIBSON
KAYBOOTH
MARTIN and SALLY FAGAITI with
Stage Management
Lighting / Photography
Wardrobe
Sound / Make-up
Box Office
Prompt
Choreography / Make-up
Backstage
Wardrobe
KEVIN BECKEN and ROGER DE SILVA Programme
LEONA O'DONNELL, RACHEL CLARKE, TEJAWOODS Make-up
and

The Panto Band
!@rl@K
Myles John Simon Robert Viv John
Ponsonby cline Griffin Glaister Griffin Morris
bass guitar guitar guitar clarinet keyboard drums
Musical Director - Richard HedleY
original music and arrangements by Richard Hedley andviv Grffin
EDDIE LILLEY : Director, Scriptwriter, Assistant Clapper
Eddie is relentless in his pursuit of comy jokes, daft plots,
bizanecharacters and over-acting, and this year sees no shortage
of willing victims to join the-fun. This 10s year of Harleqiins
shows is something special to celebrate' The continuing
,.r"".r. shows no signs-of tiring with this second hilarious
edition of The Three-Musketeers. A record number of applicants
for acting roles this year is testament to the fun had by
the cast as welfas the audience. Eddie has managed an "all for
one,, solution with adult-dominated acting parts and children's chorus and dancing
talent, to give a lively and diverse entertainment experience!
10 Glorious Years of the Harlequins
Ugg Robin Hood 2005 TheWizard of Hose
2000 The Three Musketeers 2006 Robin Hood
uoneforthe
2001 Ataddin
Scrap Book"
2002 Cinderella 2007 Ali Baba
Mutder MYstery Evening
2003 Arfur
,'One off the peg,
2004 Treasure Island *
uOnefor the Road"
(*awarded best pantomime script in Leicestershire 2004)
10
uonce More Beforc the Fat Lad-y Sings'

The Hisfory of Pantomime
Pantomime has its roots in ancient Greece and then came to fashion in Imperial Rome. Stories
were done in 'dumb-show' (performed by a single masked dancer called Pantomimus)
accompanied by a chorus, who sang the story. In the Middle Ages, Christmas 'mumming'in
Britain included mystery plays in which King Herod was the equivalent of a baddie in a
modempantomime.
The masques ofthe Elizabethan and Stuart days introduced gorgeous scenery and mechanical
effects, which then absorbed comedy after the Italian tradition of the Commedia dell'Arte.
To overcome language problems, these travelling shows focused on physical acting, slapstick,
comedy and funny costumes. Many of the characters like Harlequin became popular
across Europe. Commedia stories would often poke fun at contemporary issues.
Harlequinades, in which Harlequin was the principal charactet
developed in the 18'h Century. The first use of the word 'panto
mime' was in a 'ballet-pantomime' staged in London n 1717
The first 'modem' pantomime dates back to 1773 when
Drury Lane presented Jack the Giant Killer. Following a ban in the time of Charles II, only 2
theatres were allowed to produce spoken drama (Drury Lane and Lincoln's Inn), both of
which tried to outdo each other with their high revenue-generating pantomimes.
The famous clown Joseph Grimaldi usurped Harlequin as the star of the shows. In 1820, he
first played the Baron's wife in one of the earliest versions of Cinderella, and so the tradition
of the dame was born. Then the Harlequinade, which involved a complicated chase where
Harlequin would whack objects with his wooden bat, was put after the main play. The bat
made a'slapping' sound, hence the expression'slapstick'. Eventually Harlequinades disappeared
except for the chase scene, now absorbed into the main story.
In 1843, the old law was revoked allowing all theatres to produce a full pantomime rather
than just the mimed chase scenes. New script writers and topical subjects appeared such as
'The Birth of the Steam Engine or Harlequin Locomotive and Joe Miller and His Men'
produced shortly afterthe firstrailway engine. Then topics became more nonsensical such as
'HarlequinandtheTyrantofGobblemupandshrunkemdowno'(ideasfornextyear'spanto??).
The tradition of the principal boy being played by a woman started in 1819, when Eliza
Povey played the title role in Jack and the Beanstalk. By the late l9n Century, it provided an
excuse for female Music Hall stars to titillate a morally repressed audience by showing off
their legs as well as their other talents!
Most pantomimes can be traced back to one of five sources such as old English folk tales,
The Arabian Nights, or the famous lSth century writers Byron and Planch6. Did you know
that traditionally, good panto ahaxacters enter the stage from the right, and baddies from
stage left? This echoes a Commedia tradition, which always placed the entrances to heaven
and hell on these respective sides ofthe stage.
ll

l2
Bentons
Estate Agents
pro-actively supporting
Harby Harlequins.
Specialising in the sale of properties
throughout the Vale of Belvoir
Te1.01664 563892
w.bentons.co.uk
We would like fo thank our sponsors for
suPPorting our show:
Thc [st*t* A{e4u
47 Nottingham Street
Melton MowbraY
Leicestershire LEl 3 1 NN
dfu
ffihffikm ll:liln'J;iltr-'
FirstAid provided by members of
Belvoir First Aid
www.belvoirfi rstaid.org.uk
TeI.07896 126866
We need more members!
We would like fo thank the following for their kind
donation of raff le prizes:
The Plough Inn, Stathern
The Red Lion, Stathern
Greene, Tweed and Co.
Harby Post Offrce
The Cottage Salon, Waltham
Mrs McClellan
Stathem Stores
Belvoir Castle
Thank you fo all individuals and members of the cast who obtained
or offered donations and sponsorship. Thanks also fo the Jubilee
Club for moking our glove puppefs. We appreciate your supporf!