The Players proudly presented H.M.S. Dumbledore which is a cleverly written stage pantomime based on J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Hosted at the St Martin De Porres Church in Craighall all manner of muggle, witch or wizard was in attendance. The production itself was set to music written for the comical operetta, HMS Pinafore, by Gilbert and Sullivan.
The Players is an amateur theatre group that formed in 1989. Every year the group supports a charity and proceeds from this performance went to support cancer foundation CHOC.
Chris Philips, who has been part of the group for many years said, “The current production took eight months of rehearsal time, with approximately six months dedicated to learning the music. The music of Gilbert and Sullivan is delightful but at times complex. A significant amount of time was spent adapting the music to suit both the lyrics and the voices.”
The play would not have disappointed die-hard Harry Potter fans but was balanced with bouts of comical genius which left many an audience member in stitches. The technical aspects of the show, the sets and props and the lighting played an integral part in the success of the production, all which were handcrafted by the group’s members. The lighting technician, Jon Eyre, and artist Wendy Heather must have been spent countless hours ensuring the lighting and sets were ready in time for the technical rehearsals.
Philips added, “The cast of the show come from all walks of life and have voluntarily devoted months of their time to the show. Some played multiple roles and therefore had their work cut out for them. Grateful thanks to Father Shaun von Lillienfeld and St Martin de Porres Catholic Church for the use of the church’s facilities.”
Details: The Players, info@the-players.co.za or www.the-players.co.za
