Posted: 29 September 2008 at 6:33am | IP Logged

Hi folks,

Here is my first post on the genesis of next year's pantomime. The producers meeting was held recently and as usual I was undecided as what to do. I had read a few scripts but none took my fancy so I decided that I would once again volunteer to do the panto. Since Old Macdonald I've had a few ideas floating around. Some of these may still see the light of day but one title I did really like was "Jack and the Beansprout." Who knows, maybe one day. Other possibilites were "Old Macdonald had ANOTHER panto!" and "Bessie and Jessie get Messy!" I'm saving that one for an adult slot!

Anyway, at the back of my mind I had thought about a cowboy/wild west production as I could see plenty of scope there. The title came to me on the day of the meeting. I was at my Mum's for lunch (Thanks Mum!) and Dave was singing Ragtime Cowboy Joe to my son Tom. He's sung this to all the grandchildren and they've all loved it. This got my creative juices flowing and from that point I knew I had a title.

The rest is more or less a blank canvas though. I've made a list today of elements that might be in it, some character names (I'll give you one just now - the baddie is Wyatt Twerp!) and even a basic plot. I will elaborate on this in the coming months.

In the meantime if any of you have any ideas or cowboy jokes and scenarios please feel free to tell me or pop them down here. I can't promise to use them but all feedback is greatfully received.

Posted: 30 September 2008 at 5:19am | IP Logged

what happened to general dogsbody and private function lol?

Posted: 12 January 2009 at 10:17am | IP Logged

Ok, with assistance from Steve Proctor (who keeps on sending me ideas for this panto via email, not that I'm complaining - keep them coming Steve!) there have been a few more scenarios created. As a teaser I'll give you one just now I'm looking at the possibility of having a slapstick scene in the saloon bar.

I have pencilled in more characters than I usually have. At the moment I'm going to involve an indian (I've got a name but I'm keeping it to myself just now!) and it occured to me today to have one of the baddies henchmen called General Custard.... Pie! My deadline for a plot is the end of January and to have the whole thing done at least in a rough form by the middle of May.

Posted: 28 January 2009 at 9:56am | IP Logged

Ok, I have done a very basic scene breakdown and have at the moment 15 scenes to write. Since December, characters have come and gone, names changed and plots going in all sorts of directions. I'm fairly happy with what I've got now, so I suppose the hard work has to start.

One name I'm sad to lose is Dolly Mixture but I'm saving that for a future panto!

Posted: 01 February 2009 at 6:15pm | IP Logged

I've started! The first scene has been written and it contains the word "exterminate!"

Predictable or what? Might make a start on the scene 2 tomorrow.

Posted: 06 February 2009 at 6:18am | IP Logged

Nothing new to report except that I've just become a senior member! Must be something to do with having too much time on my hands to post on this forum.

After going great guns with scene 1, I got stuck on scene 2, left it for a few days and I think I've got it now! Also trying to work out incorporating a funny fight/dance sequence inspired by Morecambe and Wise!