I was reading Stage Left's post for their next production under the stars, and it got me thinking about my early years in the Pilbara - Dampier to be exact. Every year Dampier Rep would stage an Old Time Music Hall, under the title of FeNaCl Fanny.
For those who may be unfamiliar, the word FeNaCl is derived from the chemical symbols of the two major local industries. Fe for iron, and NaCl for salt.

The local annual festival was also called FeNaCl, later changed to FeNaClNG, the addition being Natural Gas.

I would have been about 15 when I participated in my first 'Fanny'. (That doesn't read at all well, but you know what I mean.) The night would consist of a locally written Panto - I remember themes of Star Wars (We built our own R2D2) and Monkey - as well as several variety type pieces.
The show would be MC'd by Fanny. It was always a closely guarded secret as to who would be playing Fanny in any given year. We were all sworn to secrecy.
As I remember, tickets went for the princely sum of $20. This was around 1980, so it was not an insubstantial amount, but that did include dinner, and all you could drink. Being the Pilbara, "All you could drink" could be a quite considerable amount. I seem to recall a large stack of kegs in the kitchen.

I don't think Dampier ever produced any "name" actors, but we certainly had fun.
I recall rehearsing on a Friday night, the day before tickets went on sale at noon, only to have people queueing outside the theatre to make sure they got the tickets they wanted.

I wonder if Fanny is still in production, or if any of you out there trod the boards at the Dampier Community Centre with your own Fanny?

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