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THE WATER BABIES, Godshill Players

The smallest theatre in the region clearly has the biggest heart. Charles Kingsley’s classic tale ‘The Water Babies’ was produced by a team of over fifty, ranging in age from six to 91, and in experience from professional to first-timer.  The play included dance, mime, tableaux, poetry, prose and a dozen songs from solos and duets to full chorus numbers.  The cast of 31 mostly had a full costume change from Victorian to underwater, in the life beyond.

Never knowingly produced on stage before, the challenges of the story are such that in the famous full length film the underwater section happened in cartoon.  In this play, using mid-stage curtains and even a swinging divide across the stage, the eight scenes of the first act, moved, without pause, one to another with the play continuing in the front half as the stage crew changed scenery behind.  Similarly the second act, under-water, with superb sound and light effects continued apace to the finale, with the full cast packing this tiny stage.

Here was pathos, comedy and drama showcasing an amazing range of talent.  The Company is drawn from fifteen local villages around Fordingbridge in the New Forest and the writers had included a great range of opportunities, often written with known skills in mind.  This production followed previous years of ‘The Amazing Adventures of Alice’ and ‘Toad of Toad Hall’.   All five performances were well filled by highly appreciative audiences.  This was community theatre at its best.

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