A fab rip-roaring show for everyone

The annual performance of Coquetdale Amateur Dramatic Society (CADS) is a date everyone should keep in their diary; it’s been in mine since last year.

And once again, the group did not disappoint, pulling off an excellent performance of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, Treasure Island, naturally with a few Coquetdale twists.

The group continues to bring in and nurture younger Coquetdale talent.

This year saw more prominent roles given to Amelie Crawford-Roberts, Jess Gardiner and Emily Ormston.

Coquetdale’s very own Robert Howey has also taken on a prominent role as Squirt, and both he and Sue Wood as The Squire seem to bounce off one another throughout the show.

Callum Garforth is the troublesome, but lovable rat Mouldy Rick, who manages to avoid being whacked over the head throughout the show by a sausage so huge that it would be a challenge even for Rothbury Family Butchers to recreate.

I sang the praises of the musical numbers in last year’s performance and the team at CADS has managed to take the quality up a further notch this year.

In particular, with the version of Kelly Clarkson’s hit Breakaway, sung by Kirsty Famelton as Jane and, newcomer to the CADS family, Amy Cowan as Jim.

CADS continues to build on its strengths, and the combined talents of John Mawer as director/writer, Heather Howey as choreographer and James Tait as musical director were evident throughout the show.

The star of the show for me, however, was Mike Jevons as Neptuna.

From the moment he walks onto the stage, you know the laughs are going to come thick and fast. The occasional fluff of a line makes his performance even funnier.

And be sure to keep an eye out at the start of the show for long time CADS member John Lewis as one of the drunken sailors.

He demonstrates leg flexibility that would put some international dancers half his age to shame.

What can I say? Another rip-roaring performance from Coquetdale Amateur Dramatic Society.

Congratulations must go not only to the performers, but also to the dozens of people working behind the scenes to make the show a success.

Treasure Island is a treasure not to be missed.

Performances continue tonight (cabaret seating), tomorrow and Saturday, all at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Tully’s of Rothbury.

Cast: Amy Cowan, Kirsty Famelton, Mike Jevons, Robert Famelton, Sue Wood, Robert Howey, John Mawer, Julie Ferguson, Heather Howey, Fran Elson, Kay Evans, Callum Garforth, Jo Gardiner, Hazel Meyer, Pat Lewis, John Lewis, Bill Wood, Stella Coulter, Laura Hackett, Logan Davison, Jo Gardiner, Jess Gardiner, Emily Ormston, Carolynn Crawford, Amelie Crawford-Roberts, and Joan Wilkinson.

The teddies are: Big Ted, Little Ted, Fozzy Near, Teddy, Pudsey, Wilby, Teddy Wilkinson, M Bear, Sparkles, OTT Wonder-Nugget, Mac and Tiimmy.