Bermuda will have two pantomimes to entertain them in the run-up to the Christmas season this year.

In addition to the annual production staged by BMDS at City Hall, two of the Island's leading theatre personalities are joining forces to present what they feel will be a highly entertaining show with a distinctly Bermudian slant.

Warren Cabral is the author of "The Three Musketeers'', a take-off on the famous French novel, and Patricia Pogson will bring her own unique talents to the project as director.

The pantomime will be staged at the Pembroke Sunday School from November 21 to 30. Mr. Cabral points out that the Hall holds 300, and has a stage as large as City Hall's. With John and Beverly Waddell already on board as lighting and technical designers, Mr. Cabral promises that the "under-used'' venue will become a fully equipped theatre.

Mr. Cabral says he is also very glad to be able to announce that Coral Waddell (of the School of Russian Ballet and the Bermuda Civic Ballet) will be the choreographer, and the co-producer will be Susan Shirley. The set has been designed by well known Bermudian architect John Gardner.

"We are also very thrilled that the contemporary musical score of hit pop tunes is being arranged by James Burn and will be conducted by Louise Bradley.

We have a wealth of talent involved in this show.'' "There are three main characters, the Musketeers, who will be very Bermudian, rather like the `Axperts' who were such a hit in my pantomime, `Sinbad the Sailor' which I wrote for BMDS in 1992,'' explains Mr. Cabral.

"We are holding auditions on Saturday, August 21 and Sunday, September 1 at the Pembroke Sunday School. Times are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m. We would like to emphasise,'' says Mr. Cabral, "that auditions are open to everyone, Bermudians and non-Bermudians. We are, however, looking for some obviously Bermudian characters, one of whom should be on the heavy-set side to play Portly, one of the Musketeers. We need two children who should be at least ten years old.'' Mr. Cabral and Ms Pogson are also looking for volunteers to assist backstage in mounting the production. All those interested in helping out should come along to the Pembroke Sunday School during audition times. They stress that no previous experience of theatre is necessary.

"We particularly need sewers for costumes, people who can paint and scenery, ushers and general helpers.'' Proceeds from the pantomime will go to the Bermuda Mental Health Foundation, the Menuhin Foundation and Youth Forum, the producers of Fast Forward.

Audition kits will be available from this Friday (August 16) onwards and may be picked up from the front desk of Appleby, Spurling & Kempe at Cedar House, 41 Cedar Avenue, Hamilton.

JOINING FORCES -- Warren Cabral and Patricia Pogson are pooling their talents to present a Bermudian pantomime, "The Three Musketeers'' this Christmas.