Beauty and the Beast

What a pleasure to revisit Coleshill Town Hall for Coleshill On Stage’s annual pantomime, which this year was Beauty and the Beast, utilising a script by Alan P. Frayn and directed – for the sixth consecutive time, no less –  by Tom Willson. 

The show began in traditional panto style, as Flora, the flower fairy (Sophie Foster) and wicked enchantress Belladonna (Siobhon Thornley) took verbal, rhymed pot-shots at each other from across the stage.  These were two nicely contrasting performances, neatly enhanced by their very distinct costumes. 

We then moved to the village of Franglais-Sur-Mer, somewhere in France, where we met our heroine Belle (Jennifer Walker, in a suitably sweet portrayal which also showcased a strong singing voice) and her hapless father Alphonse (Bob Horton).  Also along for the ride were selfish, grasping sisters Britney and Whitney (Angela Ivis-Peach and Jodie Butler), who were responsible for many comic moments throughout the show, including a stream of one-liners which they bounced off each other.  They also gave us an entertaining version of ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ at the top of the second half.

Local lothario Gustave (Dean James), seemingly convinced he was God’s gift to womankind and amusingly flexing his muscles at every opportunity, soon set his sights on Belle, although he seemed to have plenty of other options from amongst the village girls!  Huey Lewis’s ‘The Power of Love’ was a good choice for his signature song, and well performed.  We also met our Dame, Madame Fifi (Rob Sharratt), complete with amusing French accent which led to some good jokes contrasting French and English, and her silly son Jaques (Tom Willson, doing double duty yet amazingly seeming to have plenty of energy left for his portrayal!)

There were a couple of great comic turns from COS newcomers Ariane Mitchell and Harvey Grant as Monique and Marcel – a pair of flamboyantly entertaining hairdressers.  The scene set in their salon, in which Whitney, Britney and Madame Fifi were subject to a variety of embarrassments, was a show highlight.  

As the story progressed, we met Prince Danton (Ashleigh Poppitt, a confident performer with another good voice) whose destiny was to be transformed into the Beast.  In an unusual turn, the Prince’s beast version was played by a different actor – Daniel Butler, who showed us a character full of strident angst.  This led to some interesting opportunities, as Belle was presented with hints about the Beast’s true nature (although this did perhaps slightly undermine the message to love people for who they are!)

Anyway, Alphonse, Jaques and Madame Fifi were soon blundering into trouble at the Beast’s castle, which came complete with a very impressive set of gates that opened as if by magic – well done to the scenery design and build team Tom Willson (wearing yet another hat!) and Alec Keith.  The end of the first half saw Belle taking her father’s place in captivity.  Left to sing alone in the Beast’s castle, ‘I Will Survive’ neatly summed up her lonely predicament (although ironically she was soon surrounded by most of the cast!) 

Into the second half, and as Belle and the Beast got to know each other, poor Alphonse almost got carted off to the looney bin by Monsieur Le Fou – a brilliant cameo by Chris Lambeth that hit all of the right panto notes.  A word too for young duo Hope Goodyear (Yvette) and Esme Stewart (Antionette), who both impressed alongside other members of the ensemble (Rachel Evans, Roberta Evans, Alisha Fletcher, Valerie Martin and Clare Willson).  There was some nice chorus singing and well executed choreography from Rachel Evans, and the whole team brought plenty of energy and colour to the group scenes. 

Musical support was ably provided by MD Andrew Smith and Jak Batchelor, although this was occasionally a little too loud to enable the performers to be heard clearly. Second half musical highlights included ‘Alone’ a nice duet between Belle and Prince Danton, and ‘The Final Countdown’, a suitably bombastic showcase for the Beast’s barely suppressed rage.  Later, ‘These Dreams’, sung by Flora and Madame Fifi, was accompanied by a charming dance between Belle and the Beast, as their relationship developed. 

Needless to say, all ended well as Beauty and the Beast were united before the last rose of summer was gone, leaving the cast to sing us out with a very entertaining final medley.  Well done to all at Coleshill On Stage for a fun panto, we all had a great time – oh yes we did!

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