View from Hoad March 2017 – Let’s go Bananas!

In times when it seems that nearly every market town is trying to reinvent itself with food, music and literary festivals, Ulverston still stands out as a place where you can expect the unexpected. Who can forget unique past events like the pantomime horse races down the cobbles or the Shetland pony grand nationals? Especially since the launch in 2014 of ‘Another Fine Fest’, a celebration of comedy, music and street art, the race has been on again to showcase Ulverston’s ability to bring people together to do things no-one else has thought of. Last year of course saw the feat of organisation and community participation which resulted in the town making the Guinness Book of Records and hitting the television news for hosting the largest ever shaving foam pie fight. The brains behind this achievement admit it’s going to be hard to top creating such a moment of mayhem and laughter, and so now, inspired by the comedy potential of the humble banana, they have thought of something completely different. Younger generations, unless perhaps they have seen the Coen brothers’ affectionate tribute to Hollywood, ‘Hail Caesar’, may not be familiar with the spectacle of Busby Berkeley musical numbers or the phenomenon which was Carmen Miranda. This is about to change! The challenge is on to recreate, or even improve upon, the banana dance from the 1943 musical, ‘The Gang’s All Here’. This visual and artistic extravaganza, the like of which you will probably not have seen before in real life, is planned to take place at 2 pm near the market cross during this year’s Another Fine Fest on 17th June. If you would like to take part in this historic re-enactment, (no previous experience as a stage dancer necessary), the first step is to drop in to Two by Two on Market Street and hand over a fruity fiver to Rachel. In two workshops at the Red Rose club, on 23rd April and 7th May 2 – 5 pm, you will be provided with all the materials and advice needed to construct your very own giant banana. There will also be choreography instruction, and since this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to release your inner chorus girl or boy, you are advised not to delay in signing up!