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Treasure Island the Panto, Purbeck Players & Swanage Choral & Operatic Society, Mowlem Theatre, Swanage.

THIS show is certainly drawing in the crowds, and rightly so, for it’s just the thing to while away a summer evening.

Robert Louis Stevenson certainly knew how to write a good story, and although this version is a spoof it retains the basic elements, after a fashion. Well, okay, maybe in the original the parrot wasn’t human sized, and there weren’t any fellers dressed as women, and vice-versa, but…

Combining the talents of both a drama group and a musical society means that the standard of singing and acting is very high, and Brenda Ridout’s production, which is full of life and colour, works a treat.

There are plenty of musical numbers, with several from The Pirates of Penzance and Oliver, and including an audience sing-along version of Rule Britannia - or at least, so the programme says. It sounded remarkably like Land of Hope and Glory to me, but let that pass. And the small accompanying band was great.

Among the first-class cast some people really stand out, not least Brian Travers (Long John Slither), Stewart Jones (Blind Puke), Emma Whiting (Jim Ladd), Nick Clarke (Don Iguana) and Catherine Smith (Nancy Polperro) – but I’d share the treasure out between everyone. They deserve it.

Linda Kirkman

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