Beauty and the Beast - THE PANTO

This version of the “tale as old as time” written by the company’s own Murray Keir and Craig Inglis-McDonald, contained all the necessary ingredients to bring colour and atmosphere to the French story of Beauty and the Beast in true pantomime style.  Set in the Kingdom of Jeanstone, King Claude/The Beast mysteriously disappeared, allowing the wicked Sacre Bleu to seize the throne and plunge what was once a vibrant and colourful kingdom into doom and gloom.  The entire cast was in top form, with a great line-up of principals.  Ethan Rebert portrayed King Claude/The Beast, and Maria Antelmi delivered a wonderfully wicked Sacre Bleu.  Craig Inglis-McDonald took centre stage as the flamboyant dame, Madam Bouffant, supported by her two lively daughters: Bonnie Bouffant, played by Alexis Benson, and BB Bouffant, played by Clare Walsh; and, with the help of Daniel Inglis-McDonald, the energetic handyman Louis La Plonk, they uncovered the secrets of the forest whilst crossing paths with blundering henchmen, Voulez and Vous, ably portrayed by Ross White and Murray Keir.  However, help was always close at hand, with the kind and magical Fairy Bon Bon, elegantly played by Chaela McClelland.  Other principal cast members included Ami Torrance, Christine Mackenzie, and Jennifer Scott as ‘Thistle’, ‘Forget Me Not’, and ‘Bluebell’.  The costumes were vibrant and colourful, particularly in the finale walkdown, and the production had a great selection of songs, with good choreography and plenty of audience interaction.  As expected, good triumphed over evil, restoring the Kingdom to its former glory amid laughter and festive cheer.  All in all, it made for a thoroughly enjoyable evening’s entertainment.

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