Players Enjoy Spooky Success

Haunted by Eric Chappell, marked another forward leap in Skipton Players' development.
It was a funny, spooky, sexy success, directed by Ann Busfield.
Set in the world of popular fiction and hit West End plays, it gained impressive and fascinating depth with the interweaving of the legend of Lord Byron.
His appearances in the play were masterly constructions of humourous frankness, coarseness and arrogance.
One sure mark of a theatre groups' success is the growing number of talented people who are attracted to it.
Sally Walker has revitalised the wardrobe department. Paul Mann and Alex Day ran lighting and sound without a hitch, the excellent set was designed, built and painted by stalwarts Martin Cole and Pat Harris, ably assisted by newcomers Terry Jamieson and Laura Burdett, with Debby Holland searching out props.
Among the cast we had the welcome debuts of Tracy Harrison and Abby Day. Abby owns up to some stage experience in Canada, and she acted with flair and professional polish.
Richard Wilkinson ably carried 90 per cent of the play in a demanding role. Martin Cole played his agent and sexual rival with quiet assurance, and Jeremy Bullock clearly lapped up the part of the nerdy yet menacing Potter.
But the surprise of the evening for me was the flowering of Brian Wakeling as Byron. Clearly audible, poised and self-assured, he earned the biggest laughs - a larger-than-life character on the little stage... maybe Byron's ghost had something to do with it.

Review by Barney Long in The Craven Herald 12/12/03