Beauty and the Beast
Information
- Date
- 14th December 2024
- Society
- Sherlock Productions
- Venue
- Wesley Centre
- Type of Production
- Pantomime
- Director
- Jade Wilkinson
- Musical Director
- Shelly Edwards
- Choreographer
- Chantelle Edwards
- Written By
- Clarke & Clarke
Panto season is well and truly in the swing in Maltby, as Sherlock Productions bring their latest production to town, Beauty and the Beast. The script, written by Clarke and Clarke and supplied by NODA, was modern, fresh and funny, a great choice for this group.
Beauty and the Beast is a difficult panto to stage, as we all expect to see the Disney characters that we know and love, especially in their respective costumes. Congratulations to Pauline Lister who created some excellent costumes, especially for Beauty. The Wesley Centre is not a very big venue, however the society used this to their advantage with some great projection of scenery. I particularly liked the book with the voice over. A great start to the pantomime.
The production was double cast, and I have it on great authority that the matinee cast was just as great as the evening cast that I saw. Beauty, portrayed by Rachel Jackson, was every inch the Beauty we picture. With great a voice, Jackson really did make the audience believe she was in love with the Beast, played by Sam Bates. Having seen Sam on stage a few times now, it’s great to see him taking on different types of roles and exceeding. Chloe Jenkinson, played Zorag, our villain. Chloe truly understood how to be a Panto villain and managed to get every boo and hiss from the audience with ease. Alex Ward was also on great form as Lucian, Zorag’s right man who soon realised that you have more fun on the good side. Eleanor Hoyland was a delightful Fairy Fantastique, who looked out for our hero’s.
Joanne Farthing, was hysterically funny as Jack, our comic, and the audience waited with bated breath for her to return to the stage. Her energy was contagious and rubbed off on her audience. However. The night belonged to Martin Farthing, as Dame Dolly. Martin was everything a Dame should be, funny, motherly and a man in a dress. I don’t know if I’ll ever get John back to a panto after Martin has finished with him. I would have liked Martin to have had a couple more costume changes, however is performance was first rate.
The principal cast was well supported by: Adam Wigglesworth, Nyle Reilly, Abbie Edwards, Alicia Sherlock, Becky Yelland. Chantelle Edwards, Brooke Catton, Daniel Hudson and Tia Brunt, who were a hardworking ensemble.
Congratulations to all involved in this production, especially Jade Wilkinson (Director) Shelly Edwards (Musical Director) and Chantelle Edwards (Choreographer). It was a delight to be asked to present NODA long service awards to Shelly at the end of the production. Well done Sherlock Productions, a great time was had by all in attendance. Here’s to Legally Blonde.
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