Category: Theatre

This year’s pantomime at the Oxford Playhouse was Sleeping Beauty, and their production featured time travel, true friendship, intelligence, bravery, and a selection of 80’s hits.

Not literally, of course, but in 1982 a truck driver called Larry Walters really was. He had dreamed of flying, carried by balloons into the air for a long time. For many people this would have remained an idle fantasy – which explains why we do not regularly look up to see people floating around. Larry planned carefully, and with the aid of his girlfriend Carol – who took out a large bank loan to enable Larry to fulfil his dream – and a small team of friends, Larry achieved his dream.

This really happened and you can look it up after the show

42 Balloons musical

About six years ago, Jack Godfrey came across the story, and dreamed of turning this event into a musical. For many people this would have remained an idle fantasy, but Jack started writing songs, and planning, and with aid of quite a few very talented people Jack achieved his dream, and the musical “42 Balloons” is performed at The Lowry from 18th April to 19th May 2024. (YouTube video of Jack telling the story)

Jack Godfrey started writing songs and playing in Rockfish (the church band) at Wesley Memorial Church a long time ago, and Oxford Phab members have performed or assisted backstage with several of his early musicals, including Amazing Love, so it would be a dream come to true for Oxford Phab to go and see 42 Balloons on stage – even though The Lowry, in Salford is 160miles from Oxford. For many groups with would have remained an idle fantasy, but Mary started planning, purchasing tickets, and with the aid of our members and supporters, who moved seats, brought people to rendezvous sites and. particularly Chris who did much of the driving, an Oxford Phab group went to see the show.

After an unfortunate start to our trip, when a car drove out of a side road right in front of the minibus (fortunately we were obeying the 20 m.p.h. speed limit so no-one was hurt), and loading the minibus in heavy rain, the journey was smooth and we arrived in Salford in time to eat before the show, and even sit in a replica of the lawn chair which Larry had used for his flight.

The cast were incredibly talented and energetic, and particularly impressive as unfortunately one member slipped during the highly athletic introductory number so there was a pause before the musical continued with some members in re-arranged roles – which they did amazingly well.

The show has been reviewed by the BBC, and there is more information about the cast and team and videos at the show’s own website.

Differences and Dreams

Despite having achieved his dream, rather than being celebrated, Larry was mocked for having dropped the air pistol he had been using to shoot the helium filled weather balloons which were lifting him into the air, after he had only shot a few of them. His forethought in bringing spare spectacles in case, as did happen, the ones he was wearing came off in the launch was cause for laughter, rather than congratulations. Although Larry had done something new and impressive, because he was a truck driver, all the public focus was on the parts which had gone wrong rather than his successes. He broke the stereotype of what we expect from someone from his background, and was derided rather than being applauded. If he had been, as was his dream, a NASA astronaut, then his successful return to earth, despite technical difficulties might have been made into a film, like Apollo 13.

There is an unfortunate part of human nature, particularly in herds, to make fun of, or fear, those who are different or do not conform to ‘the norm’. If someone staggers when they walk, sounds different when they speak, dresses differently, does not fit the stereotype for their gender, race, occupation etc they are likely to be excluded from society, rather than welcomed into it.

If we can learn to celebrate the variety there is in people, to see the similarities as well as the differences, then when we come across someone out of the ordinary we can be lifted by the encounter, rather than wanting to pull them down.

Those of us fortunate enough to belong to Oxford Phab gain much from our interactions with each other – as well as the opportunity to travel to Salford to see 42 Balloons!

Banbury Cross players put on a production of Cinderella for our pantomime entertainment. The production, written by a member of their company, starred our very own Helen as the Fairy Godmother, allowing her to utter the famous words ‘Cinderella – you shall go to the ball!’

Our talented Chair, Helen, was playing the part of Nurse, in a production of Romeo and Juliet, performed by the Banbury Cross Players at The Mill theater.

All the characters delivered a strong performance, and the well timed delivery and acting meant that the authentic Shakespearean language was not a barrier to following the action.

The strong bond between Juliet and her Nurse, and the complexity of their relationship was well played by both actors, and we were glad of the opportunity to see it.

We went to the captioned performance of Dick Whittington and his Cat at the Oxford Playhouse.
Our Deaf members appreciated the captions, unfortunately they were only available on one side of the theatre, but they managed to find alternative seats for some of our members where they could see the captions and the action on the stage.

 

It was a cold night outside in Oxford, but there was plenty of warm and energy in the New Theatre, where we saw The Band – a musical featuring a group of teenage girls, fans of the boy band Take That, and their re-union twenty five years later.
The audience responded with enthusiasm to the performance, and we would like to particularly thank the people in the row in front of Tricia and Kelly.  They realised that our members, being in wheelchairs, could not see if people were standing in front of them, so made a gap so Kelly and Tricia could still see the rousing finale.
The staff at the theatre were very helpful, producing a ramp to help us get out, when it looked as if a technical hitch with the lift might have prevented us leaving after the show !