The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Linda Kirkman, Scene One)

WHENEVER I’ve looked in the back of a wardrobe all I’ve ever found is dust and the odd mislaid shoe, so I was delighted to be drawn into the strange land that four London evacuees found during a game of hide-and-seek. And that land, Narnia, gave the large and talented All Saints cast the opportunity to play not only humans but trees, satyrs and a wide variety of animals – which they did with total conviction. Thanks to some first-rate characterisations, not least from those playing the children – Rob Arrowsmith (Peter), Katy Jackson (Susan), Adam Davis (Edmund) and Jodie Doddington (Lucy), the slightly disturbing story of the terrorising reign of the White Witch (a superb Rosie Hodgkinson) was totally gripping. I could probably have done without the rather strange and unmemorable songs, but no matter. Did I cheer when the lion Aslan (Mark Andrews) came back to life? Well, no, but I did shed a tear. And I loved Kevin Knight’s benevolent, mysterious Professor Kirk, the adorable Mr & Mrs Beaver (Richard Fudge and Jenny Wise), Phil Vivian’s sad Tumnus and Tony Edwards’ gnomish Grumpskin. Full marks too to those ‘statues’ for being so realistic.

If panto isn’t your thing, do go along to this show. Other wardrobes were never so exciting.

Saints alive, What a celebration of Englishness! (Lyn Richell, The Echo)

WOW what a show! By Jeeves had me laughing from beginning to end
Being English is great. We have Morris Dancers, we laugh at ourselves and even more so at the Americans, we honour strange pagan-inspired traditions and we have the English Country Garden.
In Addition, England lays claim to Andrew Lloyd Webber, Alan Ayckbourn and PG Wodehouse. By Jeeves takes all of these factors and whips them up into a hilarious, lively and refreshingly silly piece of theatre.
Everyone one of the cast deserves an individual mention as does the back-stage team and the front-of-house people but I don't have the space to do that. All Saints Dramatic Society should be delighted with the enjoyment they gave the audience.
I am amazed that this society are amateurs - I have been to professional shows that were nowhere near as good as this.
Mark Andrews as Jeeves was superb, he played the part with complete conviction making it extremely funny.
Ollie Faulkner as Bertie Wooster was outstanding, his energy throughout was a joy to watch and left me breathless.
Well done All Saints, I can't wait for the next show.

Daisy Pulls It Off (Linda Kirkman, Scene One)

DENISE Deegan’s affectionate pastiche of life in a 1920s girls’ boarding school was given stylish and highly enjoyable treatment in this absolutely topping production, which was beautifully directed by Lesley Lock.

The play centres around Daisy Merideth (Katy Jackson, who seems to be as much of an all-rounder as her fictional character, with great singing, acting and piano playing skills), an elementary school pupil who has just won the first ever scholarship to the snobbish Grangewood School.

Her adversaries Sybil Burlington (an excellent Rosie Hodgkinson) and Monica Smithers (Jenni Boyce) do their best to see that she doesn’t remain there long, and it was surely a measure of the play’s success that I could hardly stop myself booing when the headmistress, Miss Gibson (Sheila Clapcott), announced her intention to expel Daisy. Well, I didn’t want to be expelled with her, did I?

There were super performances (and great accents!) all round, with Michelle Batcock (a lovely madcap Trixie Martin), Helen Craddick (Belinda Mathieson), Lizzie Sharpe (Claire Beaumont) and Paula Davies (Alice Fitspatrick) also making a strong impression.

As ever, attention to detail made all the difference, so full marks too for costumes, set, lighting and props.