Arrr-t for Arrr-t’s sake: Panto #1

Well, I’m going for it!

LGBTQ+-friendly theatre group ‘Pride & Joy’, production of Treasure Island, for this November.  The usual practically-zero budget, but a small cast, with most only needing one costume.  Piratical silliness, and a DAME!  A DAME FOLKS I’M SO HAPPY!  Oh, and a lobster.  And a parrot.

If you’re planning to come see this in Birmingham, SPOILER ALERT!

Of course, having done my preliminary notes and a collection of idea boards for each character, my main attention is on that solitary ‘female’ in the show, the dame.  On this instance, Dr Livesey is a woman, a drunk, and also black.  Break that mould!  I’m hoping to work in three costume changes, including a transformation costume for the final scene, where Dr Livesey [a woman played by a man] marries Captain Smollett [a man played by a woman].  Yeah.

Long John Silver and one of the mutineering pirates are also men played by women.  Jim Hawkins  marries Ben Gunn at the end as well…  The rest is complicated lol

Anyway.  My first thought went to the lobster- which raps.  Yeah.  No idea where that came from but it’s amusing me, and THAT’S why I was making a lobster a couple of weeks ago.

I went for a bimble round Barry’s warehouse on Thursday, and snagged a few goodies.  Pop your sunglasses on, here they come.

Dames need knickers…

…And glitter…

…and clashing colours

An pirates MUST have stripes ‘m I right?

This is the ‘sensible’ one for Cpt Smollett

And now the costume ideas?  Nothing has been decided yet, or agreed upon with the director, this is just me winging it.

Jim has one main outfit and a ‘small sailor suit’

Ben just gets rags…so why not a wedding coat at the end?  Hmmm?

Yup that’s me and the missus at one of our vampire parties…wonder if i can find those outfits?

C’mon- of COURSE we need a gentleman Jack!

Billy Bones- pirate and [briefly] parrot

And the dame?  Oh go on then

Citrus coloured pirate lolita with a Marie Antoinette vibe?  Go on then…

This is my dream…if I can wangle it into the plot lol

 

So there you are.  Intrigued to see progress pics?  Soon, children, soon.  I’m starting with the lobster’s bustle and acid yellow pocket hoops [paniers] for the dame.  As you do.