The Opera dudes in Huntley, Gloucestershire

18th February 2012

Huntley Village Hall

For Air in G

Mid February and the intrepid Dudes set off for a weekend of their usual mix of opera, swing and show-stopping comedy and singing in Gloucestershire on behalf of Air In G.

Mission Improbable Show

Saturday night saw us in Huntley  a different proposition altogether after Edge the previous night. All we knew was that we had to cross the motorway and head into Forest country. Watch your backs, people said; never venture into the Forest alone, they said. Cross the Wye Valley and you are letting yourself in for nothing but sheep, shamans and spooky stories! Of course that's all rubbish, isn't it? It's all folklore and superstition- surely? 

The people there are just like you and me. We all eat the same food, breathe the same air, talk the same language…

Gertrude

So we arrived at our destination, the quite Village of Huntley, go to our digs for the night and meet our hosts. "What do you do then?" we politely enquire of our delightful hostess. "Oh, I'm a pagan witch" she replies. Right, we’re out of here!!!

The House was four hundred years old, had a look of the Hansel and Gretel's about it and came with its own ghosts? On entering we were confronted by several witches hanging from the ceilings, Sharons favorite witch was called Gertrude. Spooky!!

Of course, they are perfectly lovely people, not so far removed from ourselves, bar the odd obsession with frogs and, before long, the tea and conversation is flowing. Thus reassured and, we think, prepared for anything we make our way to the Village Hall and set up the show. As we do, several people come in and offer us their unsolicited wisdom: 'you'd better be good tonight or the audience will let you know' and 'this lot are not like May Hill you know' and 'you'll be lucky to get out of here alive!!

Finally the show is under way and all our fears are dispelled. The audience members are as warm and appreciative as they are numerous and soon the laughter and applause can be clearly heard above the beating of the bat's wings, the cackling in the kitchen and the distant hum of dismembering chainsaws! 

Neil had lots of ladies to cast his spell on as he serenaded a few of the them during the show. Never have we seen so many women at a Dudes show in a Village Hall and they seemed to love it.