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David Selzer is a writer of poetry, prose fiction, screenplays and stage plays. He embraces digital platforms to share his work of more than fifty years… READ MORE
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AN AWFULLY BIG ADVENTURE
We are going to see a pantomime,
Peter Pan, at the Empire, Liverpool.
(She could choose to take one of two glove puppets –
Captain Hook or the Crocodile – so it
could enjoy the treat. She chose the crocodile).
We are going by train – past some fields,
the backs of many houses, through a cut
and then a tunnel under a river.An odd story for a panto, effete
and no dame or an obvious clown
but she watches literally open-mouthed
whether from her own seat or, as she tires,
her mother’s lap. She is oblivious to
or, rather, transcends, the local celebs,
the Scouse jokes, the inevitable camp
and Merseyrail purring below us,
to enter a brave new world of a flying
boy and girl, a large and gentle dog,
Pirates, Indians, much singing, some dancing,
a fairy we can save by clapping,
the Captain with his eye patch and red coat
and her focussed Croc, tock, tick, tock, tick.
As the curtain falls, tearful, she asks,
‘Why has it stopped, why, why?’
5 responses to “AN AWFULLY BIG ADVENTURE”
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Simply beautiful, David, simply beautiful – it brings a tear to my eye.
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Lovely moments …
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An adventure for everyone. I love the irony of pantomime, so laden with funny business, aimed at the young, yet engaging a child with the essence of character and feelings.
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Fabulous – and so true! She loved it so much we went back for Aladdin last year and she took to the stage… A lone Sourherner among the Scousers! Looking forward to reading about that. And this year, it’s Dick Wittington! She knows that story really well too but she’s so much more grown up now 😉
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It’s magical. Love the description of the journey to the theatre. The details pull me in and I am on the journey with you. The child’s innocence is charming and her awe and wonder seems even greater when positioned against the adult’s take on it. Made me gasp at the end – wanted to soften the blow for her and make the magic last!
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