THE unassuming thespians of the Dingwall Country Women’s Association called in to Glenarm last Wednesday to deliver a charmingly bespoke vaudeville performance.
The oft-hilarious nursery rhyme rendition, enriched by the earnestly bizarre costume design, had many residents in fits of laughter.
A red-wigged Queen Mary I – replete with a small plastic sceptre – held court as narrator and master of ceremonies.
“I am Queen Mary the first, and we have come here today to have some fun with you and sing some rhymes I’m sure you’ll all know,” the Queen, played by Alvis Eddy, proclaimed.
The three mice, played by Heather Mortlock, Fay Godden and Vivien McClung, promptly scurried in through the audience before leading the room in an offbeat chorus of Hickory Dickory Dock.
The trio returned in Act II, shuffling across the room with white canes and bumping into residents, as the three blind mice.
Mary Fenton, who played the farmer’s wife, then poured herself a glass of wine – decried the weakness of male political leadership – and set after the mice with a meat cleaver.
“Ah, we get this one over here, here we go, big chop with this one!” said the farmer’s wife.
After the farmer’s wife had claimed the mice’s three tails, Queen Mary delivered political context to the nursery rhyme.
“My story begins around 1555; wars then were religious – a long time ago before Putin and Trump,” the Queen explained.
“I had a penchant for persecuting Protestants, who I considered blinded by their faith and perishable under heresy laws.
“Three Protestant bishops, later known as the Oxford Martyrs, plotted against me – so it was off with their heads!”
The performance concluded with Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary.
Glenarm resident Marjory Robinson was in stitches for much of the performance.
“It was a good bit of fun, I’d rather be sitting down here than up there,” she said.
Glenarm lifestyle and leisure co-ordinator, Ange Teasdale, said the facility is delighted when community members and groups drop in.
“They did a great job; it’s great to have volunteers kind enough to come and spend their time here,” Ms Teasdale said.
Mrs Fenton, the Dingwall CWA president, said there were many familiar faces in the crowd.
“We performed (the show) in Swan Hill at the CWA music and drama event in May,” Mrs Fenton said.
“We did one day training before we went to the gathering; we’re mad – it helps.”
