Beauty and The Beast Pantomime

The Kaleidoscope Players presented a joyful, colourful and engaging pantomime with Beauty and the Beast, full of strong performances, humour and excellent audience involvement, both on and off the stage.

This imaginative version of the story sees Belle living in the village of Petit Pois with her feuding sisters, Chardonnay and Lambrini, and their larger-than-life mother, Dame Dolly Jolly. While the vain Jean-Claude and good-natured Prince Louis vie for Belle’s attention, the jealous Countess Cruella transforms Prince Louis into the Beast. When Papa is imprisoned at the Beast’s castle, Belle selflessly offers to take his place, and through kindness and understanding, love ultimately breaks the spell.

Alice Goodall gave a confident and well-rounded performance as Belle, perfectly capturing her firm yet kind nature and love of books, supported by a beautiful singing voice. Evie Barfield was charming as Prince Louis, and together they delivered a lovely duet, “Come What May”. Jason Kramer impressed as the Beast, beginning with real anger and frustration before gradually revealing a softer, more emotional side, looking the part with some great prosthetics. Emily Mughal gave an outstanding performance as Jean-Claude, confidently embracing the ‘Gaston’-style role, with swooning villagers and excellent comic timing.

Mikey Panichi and Tessa Raum were an absolute delight as Chardonnay and Lambrini, playing off each other brilliantly with great energy and sibling rivalry that made them clear audience favourites. Paul Margett delivered a great Dame performance as Dolly Jolly, looking spectacular in every costume and providing a warm, likeable presence.
Zoe Shepherd shone as the Rose Fairy, lighting up the stage with every appearance and captivating the audience while seamlessly driving the story forward. Lucy Cadney was the villainous as Countess Cruella, drawing plenty of enthusiastic booing and hissing from the audience.

Strong supporting performances came from Shannon Smart as Jacques, Prince Louis’ loyal and likable friend, bringing charm and warmth to the role. Ron Murfin was very likeable as Papa and Gigi the Horse, portrayed by Jess and Charlotte, was a highlight, with both performers doing an excellent job of bringing Gigi to life. The ensemble of dancers and singers contributed greatly to the energy of the show, with great enthusiasm from the junior members of the cast and their ballet sequence was especially enjoyable, showcasing promising up-and-coming talent. I loved the UV section, which was very clever, visually striking and very effective.

I also particularly enjoyed the beauty parlour scene, which made clever and effective use of props and set for strong comedy value and Rebekah Street was a highlight as Madame Botox. Additional roles were well supported by Beth Margett as Jean-Claude’s PA, Caitlin Wright as Tarquin, Lily Rawson as Tiffany, Olivia Parker as Chelsea, Samantha Moss as Svetlana, and Lauren Victoria Wells and Amy Bradford as the Portraits and Josephine Walker as Madame Tricot,

Direction and choreography by Amy Bradford, Evie Barfield and Josephine Walker, supported by Dance Captain Hannah Bradford, resulted in clean, energetic routines and strong storytelling. Producers Alice Goodall and Samantha Moss should be congratulated on bringing together a cohesive and entertaining production. Musical direction by Bethan Davies-Taylor was solid and well delivered, with the band providing strong support; special mention to the stand-in drummer, who did an excellent job at short notice.

The production was supported by a dedicated technical and backstage team. The set was effective and versatile with well-constructed flats. Costumes, designed by Denise Brown and Debbie Weetman, truly made the show. They were outstanding in colour, style and variety, perfectly suited to each character and enhanced the pantomime’s atmosphere throughout. From Dame costumes to ensemble outfits, every detail added to the visual impact of the production. Lighting and sound, operated by Aaron Mace and Jack Clarke, added atmosphere and ensured that all performers could be clearly seen and heard with stage management by Martin Church and Sammy Hempsall. 

Front of House created a wonderful sense of occasion. The foyer was already buzzing on arrival, with characters moving around and interacting with the audience. The busy raffle and stalls selling light-up items created a lively, market-style hustle and bustle that immediately set the tone for the evening. Accessibility was thoughtfully addressed, with BSL interpreter Sammie Vanterpool providing clear and engaging interpretation throughout the performance.

Overall, Beauty and the Beast was a joyful, inclusive and well-produced pantomime that clearly delighted its audience. Huge congratulations to everyone involved and we look forward to seeing Kaleidoscope Players’ next production in July, The Wizard of Oz.

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