Pleased with the success of last year's pantomime which placed the annual Christmas show firmly back in traditional mode, the BMDS has invited English stage director and actor Jonathan Owen back to direct this year's production of "Mother Goose''.

A professional of some 18 years experience who has worked extensively in British theatre, radio and TV, Mr. Owen is confident this much-loved panto will prove to be another success.

"While `Mother Goose' is probably the most traditional of all the pantomime stories, it is probably true to say that it's the least known.'' He points out that when it was first produced at Covent Garden in 1806, the famous clown Grimaldi achieved the greatest success of his career. This version originates from a Drury Lane production in 1902 in which the great comic Dan Leno starred as the Dame.

It should perhaps be pointed out to those unfamiliar with the long established customs of pantomime, that a well known actor/comedian takes on the part of the requisite Dame and, very often, a glamorous-looking actress will play the Principal Boy.

Not to be outdone, Bermuda, too, will be featuring one of its leading thespian stars as the Dame. Gavin Wilson, who will once again take on that role as Mother Goose, is described by Mr. Owen as "unique, in every sense of the word. He's a naturally colourful personality, so that makes him an incredibly colourful Dame. He knows no fear in real life, or onstage, so he is prepared to go for anything -- this is a very refreshing quality for a director to find!'' Mr. Owen reveals that this year's show will once again feature a female as Principal Boy -- Jack being played by Pennie Halliwell. "We couldn't come up with a suitable girl last year, so we cast Daniel Frith as Robin Hood, and he was very good, so that worked well. As it turns out, I actually had Pennie right by my side last year, as she was my assistant. I didn't realise I had this talent lurking so close! But she couldn't audition then for Principal Boy as she had broken her leg. I do think,'' he adds with a chuckle, "that it's absolutely essential that a female Principal Boy has to have a terrific pair of legs -- and Pennie certainly has!'' Mr. Owen says he is excited with Deborah Raat who plays the role of Jill.

"She has a wonderful soprano voice. I was so impressed with her at the audition. You have to have a strong singer to carry this role and she is one of the best I've heard in a long time. We have a fabulous Principal Boy and Girl this year.'' He is pleased, too, with Geoff Yeomans who takes on the comic role of Billy Goose.

Also appearing will be Paul Lowry as Squire Grabbit, Connie Dey as Ben, Shirley Brown as Priscilla, Monica Dobbie as Fairy Goodness, Adrian Barnaby as the Demon of Darkness and Kathi De Couto as the Queen of Gooseland.

Musical director is Gaynor Gallant, with Douglas Frith and James Burn responsible for the musical arrangements, and Sal Hodgson is the choreographer for the dance sequences. Set designs are by Elmer Midgett, lighting is by Sue Bendell, sound design by Andrew Whalley, Elizabeth Wingate being in charge of the costumes and Ian Burch responsible for the all-important special effects.

A production on this scale calls for several section heads so Jane Correia is the executive producer, assisted by Barry Bailey as business producer (he also takes on the job of stage manager), Janice Duffy, artistic producer and Kevin Blee as the technical producer.

Asked which qualities he feels are essential for a successful pantomime, Mr.

Owen says an actor has to appear totally at home and relaxed with his audience.

"I always ask the cast not to talk to each other onstage but to direct their script directly to the audience. Panto is a very contrived form of theatre, and you have to actually talk to the audience. That audience should always feel secure with the players -- even if the actors are really scared, they have to put over a devil-may-care attitude. I've always believed that a good actor is a lousy liar because you can only communicate through truth and honesty, and I believe that's particularly true of panto.'' "Mother Goose'', explains Mr. Owen, has been adapted slightly by him from Duggie Chapman's UK version, to include some Bermuda references and topical jokes.

"In the end, I think we have to accept that humour is humour, especially slap-stick humour. When someone falls over, or gets a pie in the face, it's funny -- whether it's in Bermuda or Bombay!'' Of one thing he is certain: pantomime requires multi-talented performers.

"It's not easy to do pathos one minute, and comedy the next, as well as singing and dancing. It's actually harder than Shaw or Wilde, but panto does tend to be the poor relation of `legit' theatre, so that aspect isn't usually appreciated.'' One of the problems he has faced in staging a full-scale, fairly sophisticated production for BMDS is the fact that there is so much going on, theatre-wise, now.

"We do have some incredible talent here but the pool of talent is becoming a little stretched. I found this year, that people were either tired from `Pirates', were committed to `Night Music' (slated as the G & S production for the Bermuda Festival), the Dance Theatre's `Nutcracker' (also for the Festival) or were cast in the other pantomime, `The Three Musketeers'.'' Warning that although all this activity is good in one sense, it does mean that there is ultimately "less butter to go on the bread'', Mr. Owen believes also, that many talented people still tend to think of pantomime as inferior.

"I would think that some people may plump for `A Little Night Music' as they tend to think of Sondheim as more of an art form. Personally, I happen to disagree with that! Pantomime is part of the great English tradition of theatre and it is still as popular there today as it ever was. Just about every city and many towns put on a professional pantomime.'' Jonathan Owen is well known in Britain for his ten-year BBC radio portrayal of Terry Barford in the famously long-running daily serial, `The Archers'. He also appeared in a twice-weekly TV `soap' called `Triangle' in which he played Kate O'Mara's son for the whole 26 episodes. He had a major role in Tommy Steele's stage production of `Singin' in the Rain' at the London Palladium and then in Tokyo, as well as a theatre version of the Marilyn Monroe film, `Some Like It Hot.' "Mother Goose'' will be presented at the City Hall Theatre from Thursday, December 5 through Saturday, December 14 at 8 p.m. with matinees on December 7 and 14 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $16 ($13 for matinees) are available from Daylesford from 5.30 to 7.30 p.m. weekdays, from 12.30 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, and during the run of the show, from City Hall nightly from 7 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday matinees from 2 to 3 p.m.

Jonathan Owen