Beauty And The Beast

What a pleasure to visit Garforth Musical Society for their annual pantomime, which this year was Beauty and the Beast. This is community theatre at its best, with everyone in the society working well together to produce live theatre and great entertainment.

Alan Frayn’s script took the traditional story of Beauty and the Beast and gave it an entertaining pantomime spin. Congratulations to Elaine McAleese, who, along with Lynne Hill, Chris White, and MD Joanne Jackson, kept the production tight and made a great team.

Elaine McAleese, with her creative direction, resulted in a charming pantomime and a great evening’s entertainment, which was a complete success.  You cracked fine family entertainment… nothing was too long…the behind you's, etc., the songs, the funny jokes, and the clever beauty salon scene all very well directed.

Joanne Jackson brought the best out of the cast with some excellent choices of music that blended very well with the plot. Choreography suited the strengths of the cast and was well drilled and creatively thought through, incorporating various patterns to add interest and help overcome the limitations of the small stage. Lynne Hill coped admirably and gave everyone plenty of movement, which they delivered with relish.

The incredible backstage team, led by Stage Manager Andrew Oxtoby, set builders Jemma Bennett, Mark Jackson, Crew Ian Barber, Tess Cowles, Darren Gregory, Sasha Marshall, and prop makers Tess Cowles and Sasha Marshall, all worked their magic to produce exceptional props and sets, which really helped enhance the storytelling. Effective lighting by Adam Holmes and balanced sound by Keith Fearnley and Richard Sharp, who made sure that everything looked and sounded just right.

Panto needs good colourful, fairy-tale-style costumes and makeup to add that extra magic which is just what Erin Ocsko and Elaine McAleese achieved.

Throughout the show there was exceptional characterisation by both principals and the enthusiastic ensemble, with the strong cast working well together. It was lovely to see such happy smiles and every single person obviously enjoying themselves immensely, and this was infectious, resulting in a happy audience. Extra happiness was due to Jane Archdale, Manina Fallas, Barbara Hawksworth, Val Johnston, Michaela Lovell, Anita Roe, Nikki Thomas, and Rebecca Wilson.

The role of the dame is integral to a pantomime, and Chris White delighted as Madam Fifi in outrageous shoes and garish costumes. This dame certainly knows how to swirl a frock to effect giving an impressive performance and squeezing out every inch of fun whilst fully engaging the audience, both young and old. Complimented by her son, Jaqueline Emma Morton burst onto the stage with tremendous energy and brought the true panto flavour to the piece. Emma gave a spirited performance with plenty of personality.

Doreen Escolme as Flora, along with the glamorously evil Jenny Hirons as Belladonna had the poise and presence required of these roles, with clear articulation of the rhymes and strong characterisation of the opposing forces. They took verbal, rhymed potshots at each other from across the stage brilliantly. The Beast, sensitively played by Richard Escolme, had a lovely tone of voice and wonderful demeanour in this role and certainly won the empathy of the audience. Belle, played winsomely by Laura Denbigh, gave a sincere and confident performance. Isabelle Rose was a regal Prince Danton and confidently took on the challenging song, “This Is The Moment.” Laughter was also brought to us by two comic characters, Marcel played by Johnny Fallas and Monique, Rebecca Haigh, both played their roles in the beauty salon with fabulous attitude, passion and comic aplomb. Laughter was also high on the agenda, with much mirth caused by Belle’s two undesirable sisters, who strutted and flounced. Lynne Hill as Whitney and Erin Ocsko as Britney used their experience to give hilarious portrayals of the jealous sisters, bringing out all the humour with good comic timing. These two revelled in their self-centred selfishness. Neil Duff presented a genial fatherly figure as Belle’s hapless father, hapless Alphonse. The selfishly annoying Gustave was given just the right amount of arrogance by Graham Oxtoby. Monsieur Le Fou was played very effectively by Ken Hall.

House manager Phyllis Jackson, along with her team Jo Fallas, Lisa Haigh, Carol Holmes, Richard Sharp, and Sue Sharp, ensured things ran smoothly and the audience was well looked after.

Well done to the whole company, backstage, front stage, and production, on an entertaining and successful production. My sincere congratulations to everyone involved in this memorable pantomime.

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