'HONK' a Young HATS Production performed on 24th to 26th April 2008, click 'here' for review by Dianne Green.

Herstmonceux Parish Pump - written by Dianne Green.

HELLO DOLLY

What a show, what a cast and what a wonderful idea to bring the West End to Herstmonceux or that’s how it seemed when for four days last week, Herstmonceux vil­lage hall played host to Hello Dolly courtesy of HATS. The show tells the story of Dolly Levi a match­maker amongst other things and believe me she had a business card for almost all events who had been hired to find a wife for the very rich Horace Vandergelder but Dolly wanted marriage to Horace herself. To say this was a colourful show would be putting it mildly, the cast could have been hand-picked for their parts they were so well suited and Dolly, played by Linda Thompson who also co­-directed the show with her husband Chris (Fagan from their performance of Oliver) was absolutely stunning, she sang with such excitement and enjoyment which spilt right over into the audience and her ‘intended’ Horace Vandergelder played by Cliff Bendall who I can’t say I remember from any other HATS performances but will never forget from this one was, funny, slick in his per­formance and a joy to watch, blending into the back­ground when needed and bursting centre stage when his part called. Other out­standing performances came from Irene Molloy, Lucy Smith, who of course still has that wonderful voice which can lift the hall at any time and a slightly smaller part was that of the First Waiter or Maitre ‘d’ played by Phil Hilder, he over accentuated his position in the restau­rant but never overacted it, a tyrant to his juniors, a stickler for correctness and a very funny man. I suspect we will see more and more of him, in the future. The whole cast put in excellent performances, never once missing a line, never once faltering during the musical numbers some of which are quite hard to sing with a fair amount of harmonising at times and of course the chil­dren’s parade was a master­piece of timing as they made their entrance from the back of the hall, going up, down and round the stage and they just kept on coming and coming and coming. There were many very funny scenes, far too many to men­tion and the cast showed a wonderful ease of movement on the stage, speed when needed and the use of their use of the stage was very impressive as well. During a lot of the performance I had one eye on their director Chris Thompson who was bouncing up and down with them and encouraging them every step of the way. I feel sure that he too was more than pleased with the way it went and I am sure that the audience felt the same way too. The first night is not easy, not always a respon­sive audience but on this occasion they applauded and applauded leaving the cast in no doubt how much they had enjoyed Hello Dolly. 

In November 2004. The Herstmonceux Amateur Theatrical Society's (HATS) production of Snow White which took place in the village hall did not include The Seven Dwarfs in the title. But the dwarfs, much to every-one's relief and pleasure, did appear in the pantomime. 

If this was a politically correct omission by the author (John Morley) at least he did not go one step further and re-name them 'persons of restricted growth'. Although several of their names did appear to have been 'updated' eg Grumbly (Grumpy?); Batty (Dopey?), Dozy (Sleepy?); Baggy (Bashful?)

The essence of good pantomime is tradition and 'going over the top'.

March 2004 Young HATS performed Tin Pan Ali - story of Ali Baba, set in 1930's Chicago. Ali Baba, a street-sweeper, sees some gangsters dump a haul of jewels in a warehouse manned by Sesame. Ali steals the loot and takes it home to hid girlfriend Morgiana. The thieves discover Kassim, Ali's brother, grabbing his share, and, led by Carooni, they search for Ali, disguising themselves as street-sweepers.

November 2003 saw South Pacific, the story being so well known there is no need to say more, but a tremendous success performed to good audiences each night.

July 2003 saw Young HATS production Fish & Ships, which was set under the sea, and on the Ocean floor with a wonderful and not-so-wonderful world of sea creatures with the occasional human. It had romance, comedy, music and morals all narrated by a worm dangling from a fish hook.

December 2002 saw a new "HATS OFF" performance, which was a variety show comprising songs, comedy sketches and other entertainment. It proved to be extremely popular and successfull.

In December 2001 HATS presented the Musical GUYS & DOLLS written by Frank Leosser a show inspired by Damon Runyon's tales of the New York gambling scene in the late forties. This production was a great success and received glowing reports in the local press.

Into 2001 the comedy “TIME AND TIME AGAIN” an Alan Ayckbourn production was performed. In July Young HATS performed the BLUE CRYSTAL a musical written locally by Nick Perrin. The show received excellent reviews and Young HATS will hopefully be entertaining us all again next year. 

The year 2000 started with “THE 20th CENTURY SHOW”- a review including a supper and now in the new village hall, had the luxury of a licensed bar. In July a comedy called “TRIVIAL PURSUITS” was presented. The November saw “BLITZ” a 1940s-war time story seen through the eyes of Mrs Blitzstein. And what a wonderful show it was. 

In March 1999 “HATS REVIEW” was presented in the old village hall in aid of the new village hall fund. This was followed in July 1999 by “HOODUNNIT” written by a local playwright, at the old hall again. Finally in 1999 the pantomime “ DICK WHITTINGTON” was presented as the last production before the old village hall closed its doors. 

HATS was inaugurated on 24 March 1998, the first show being “HATS OFF” , a cabaret with supper at the Reid Hall, Boreham Street on Friday 26 June 1998. This was followed in December 1998 with a show in two parts “TALES OF CHRISTMAS”, A Christmas Carol- Dickens and a locally written Mini-Pantomime entitled A Christmas Fantasy (based on Snow White).