After having the Rye Players’ panto visit Camber for the last couple of years, it was a little disappointing to find out they were not going on the road again in 2025. However, for those who made the trip to Rye to see the show, you would understand why – the set was far too big (and elaborate) to move from place to place. And for those who did see it, what a treat it was! Billed as the “Crazy Christmas at the Haunted Hotel”, it did not disappoint. Crazy, it was, in so many ways!
This year, the panto was held at the Rye Theatre. This is part of Rye College – re-styled from the Milligan Theatre in 2023, although there were no directions on the flyer for those who didn’t already know about the name change, which was not widely publicised.
Playing to an almost full house (the venue is much bigger than Camber’s Memorial Hall), the players had the audience in stitches throughout. The script was hilarious, and brilliantly executed by the cast, as they played the staff and guests of the Hideaway House Hotel – a creaky old seaside hostelry – who tried to uncover something spooky in the boiler room downstairs! With lots of fluorescent hair, crazy costumes and zany antics, it was tremendous fun from start to finish!
This year’s Dame was the matriarch of the White family, convincingly played by Billy Dover, who arrived at the dusty old hotel on Christmas Eve with her twin children, Arthur and Christine, and was tempted to leave immediately when they saw the state of it. The eccentric hotel owner, Madame Moonlight, alongside her whacky aunt, useless bellhop, distracted lift attendant and bumbling waitress tried to convince the guests to stay!
Mayhem ensued as the ‘good elves’ tried to outwit the ‘bad elves’ – who had control of the monster in the boiler room – and who were trying to ruin Christmas. The monster was played by Kenzo Drummond who treated us to Long John Saliva’s sidekick, Flint the Parrot, in last year’s panto, Treasure Ryeland. Once more, Kenzo gave an energetic and hilarious performance! Thankfully, by the end of the show, the goodies had overcome the baddies and Christmas was saved!
Whether on the ‘good’ side or the ‘bad’ side, all the elves were brilliant – every one of them having the audience in side-splitting laughter. ‘Elf and Safety’ was especially popular as the team gave out sweets and treats throughout! In many scenes, the cast was enriched by, and the audience treated to, wonderful routines by the young dancers from The Rye Dance Centre, with perfectly executed choreography. Well done to them all for learning all the moves!
There were a couple of ‘the-show-must-go-on’ moments … When the stage was split into two scenes, a couple of the good elves played their parts whilst the adjacent scene was playing out. They soon realised what was happening and very professionally made a subtle exit, only to ask the audience if they had experienced déjà vu when it was their correct turn! It resulted in much laughter! Father Christmas made several appearances, trying to save his elves from the ‘monster’ in the boiler room, but forgot the lines to one of his songs. The very talented Lawrie Tumber had to ad-lib for a little while, even singing, “I don’t know the words / I’m making it up as I go along” – much to the amusement of the audience!
The jokes came thick and fast and the audience roared with laughter. From the front rows, children shouted support for the ‘goodies’ and boo-ed and hissed at the ‘baddies’, along with numerous shouts of, “he’s / she’s behind you!”
The entire cast was first-rate. Amongst all the brilliant performances, we saw a few familiar Camber faces: Shannon Dudley’s beaming smile brought Madame Moonlight to life whilst Clare Murray played an impressive Elf 13, who was a good elf (Oh yes, she was!). Pat Driver expertly executed the sound and lighting, whilst Fay Steadman, Trish Tyson, Lee Bamsey, and Carol MacDonald took to the Front-of-House to welcome everyone through the doors, and Olivia Boxall danced beautifully with the troupe that enchanted us in so many scenes.
Bravo, Rye Players! Thank you for a wonderful afternoon’s entertainment!
If you are interested in joining Rye Players, whether to act, or to help with production, stage management or front of house, please get in touch with them – new members are always welcome:
www.ryeplayers.com
@ryeplayers
www.facebook.com/ryeplayers
ryeplayers@btinternet.com
Rye Players gave away some free tickets to local causes, enabling community groups, schools and playgroups to raffle them to raise funds.
