Alice in Wonderland

Nunthorpe Players’ panto was an original script from a local writer Michael Tattersall that gave all the usual essentials of a panto with audience participations in responses, sweeties throwing and singing competition along with slapstick pie throwing, corny jokes and behind you ghost chase.  The cast of principals and chorus were well rehearsed and choreography in the songs was nicely danced by all.  The lead role of Alice by Erica Shanks-Davison was well played and songs sung with nice voice. The principal boy of Lewis played by Pierre Brown was well played and knowing he has stood in at short notice was done really well with good character.  Helen Franks was excellent as the evil Queen of Hearts Atria with audience rapport and chilling laugh. Her assistant Iritus played by Samantha Dobson was really excellent too with great character in voice and body and energy in her role. Jo-Anne Smith as Billy, Alice’s brother played the blundering buffoon with lovely character and audience interaction and Amy Rokins played the White Rabbit as the magical maker and opponent of the evil Queen who also had the audience engaged with her. The Dame Candy Barr mother of Alice and Billy was played by Lee Rogers, with the corny jokes lines a plenty. Extra character Alva a Swedish exchange student was played by Tracy Legg with great costume, and love interest in Billy, and 2 newcomers Terence Bytheway and Chris Payne played several cameos in different scenes with gusto.

The costumes were very colourful, nicely fitting and varied, my favourite being Queen Atria’s and the White Rabbit’s. Song choices were varied and appropriate with the chorus singing in tune and with good volume, and their dancing was well rehearsed with choreography by Jo-Anne Smith And Alex Duncan, and the solos well sung in the main.  The audience were getting restless and distracted by the interval, and perhaps a more balanced two halves would be worth taking into account, however the show gave what was expected by the audience and was enjoyed by all.  The lighting was nicely done and magic twinkles well done. Sound effects were also well done and the live 4 piece band added the extra effects and lovely accompaniments.  Nicely done Nunthorpe Players. 

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