In more than 25 years of appearing in pantomime there’s not
much CBeebies superstar Chris Jarvis has not achieved – he’s starred in,
written, directed and produced panto, he’s won awards, played most of the classic
principal boys and a fair few of the supporting roles, but he’s never been
Dame.
Until now…
Chris has decided it’s high time he donned the wig and frock
and put his best high heel forward as Betty Bonbon in Beauty and the Beast
at Lighthouse, Poole’s centre for the arts.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” he admits during a break
in his first photo shoot in the role, “but there have been so many brilliant
Dames – it’s a very specific act – so there’s a lot to live up to and a lot at
stake.
“I’ve done it once before on telly, but this is the first
time I’ve done it for a run. Why? Well, firstly it’s because I was asked, but
also, I’m 52 now and I’m getting to the age when I need to make that next move
and let someone come in with new ideas. I wouldn’t feel right to be playing
parts half my age and when I look at what Tom is doing as Cupid, which might
have been the role I would have played, with all the jumping about, I think I
might be able to manage some of that for one show a day, but not for two.”
There’s a lot to take in his stride, but Chris is wily
enough to know he doesn’t need to be too dainty in the step…
“The thing with Dame is that you have to play it as a man in
a dress otherwise you look like a bad drag act – this is something that belongs
on a stage not in a club. So, I’ve had to learn how to do my make up a certain
way and the wig is very Mrs Slocombe, not Drag Race.
“When you look back at people like Les Dawson and Billy
Dainty who were brilliant panto Dames, their material might not work to a
modern audience, but the way they played Dame was so skilled. And I’ve spoken
to lots of Dames to ask for tips on how to play it. I’m so lucky, there’s so
much kindness and humility in this business, because everyone has been so
helpful. These are really talented people and they’ve been willing to share
some of what they’ve learned with me.”
Chris is also directing the show and is determined to pull
out all the stops and deliver a no-holds-barred family pantomime like the ones
he grew up on.
“Our version of Beauty and the Beast is based on the
story written by Andrew Pollard for Salisbury, and we’ve turned it into a panto
for Poole. It has that traditional humour that maybe we don’t see on telly so
much and it has a bit of extra story than you might expect with all the fun and
gags and fantastic costumes – it’s a real party!
“The costumes are amazing, and the set has been remodelled
and re-prettified and remade to fit Lighthouse. I was so glad because I thought
we might lose the top of it, but we haven’t, it fits perfectly. It’s very 21st
century.”
Lighthouse occupies a special place in the affections of
Chris Jarvis – not only as patron of Wessex Youth Orchestra, but he loved
playing Dick Whittington in Poole in 2019, and last year he memorably ‘saved’
Christmas with the very special Happy Ever After show. Co-produced on a
shoestring, it was written and directed by Chris who played Buttons in a pantomime-style
family show that won over audiences before it had to close after just a week.
“The budget for that was a quarter of the budget that this
show has, but we still put on a full show with dancers and sets. There was a
lot to be proud of, but now we have Beauty and the Beast and it’s like
the next level.
“Producing this show in-house represents a huge investment
for Lighthouse and I know it will all be worth it when you see the happiness
that it brings. People feel like they need something, they need a lift, because
we sort of missed Christmas last year. It’s that whole joyful thing about panto
and I’ve been blown away by the good feeling around this show.”
Modesty always prevents Chris from taking too much credit
for that good feeling, but without exception his fellow cast members all point
to their director’s open-minded, collaborative and encouraging way with the
material and the company he has created.
Chris, of course, just loves panto – it’s in his blood.
“The thing is, people can come here and get that traditional
humour that maybe they don’t see on telly any more unless it’s re-reruns of Dad’s
Army or Are You Being Served?, or Morecambe and Wise. It’s not rude,
but it is slightly saucy, seaside postcard humour, double entendre, and that is
part of panto.
“My mum has never told me off for anything I’ve done
onstage, but she is quite religious and that’s my benchmark. Sometimes it’s too
easy to write things for your own amusement, that’s not what I’m about – If I
think Mum would be offended or upset, then I don’t do it. It’s as simple as
that.”
:: Beauty and the Beast runs from 9 to 31 December. Tickets
available now at www.lighthousepoole.co.uk.
Interview: Syndicated.
No comments:
Post a Comment