Beauty and the Beast - The Pantomime

This was the first time I had seen the pantomime "Beauty and the Beast" and would you believe it I'm off to see it again next week!

I was pleased to see that the Company used a Limelight Script again, who are based in Sheffield and certainly give the opportunity to use Sheffield references which always go down well with the audience.

Congratulations to Steve Mather on an excellent return to directing and to Steve Trotter and his band in their accompaniment. Hayley Wilbourne and Beth Dray did a great job with the choreography - particularly the senior dancing girls in their weirwolf and the "love theme" numbers.  The children in "The Garden Ballet" did extremely well. I loved Matthew Walker as Dame Dolly Donut - his costumes were to die for - on the night of my visit he did  extremely well with the "Old Macdonald's Farm number" particularly with the animals he was given by the four young members of the audience!! Belle (Molly Fitzackerley) was excellent in her first leading lady role with HHTC and I enjoyed her interpretation of "The Rose".  Well done to Joseph Walker (Prince Louis/The Beast) - his transformation from Prince to Beast and back to Prince (all on stage) was excellent. Debbie Mather and Bev Walker were hilarious as Nutella and Canderel  (respectively) - Belle's "not so sweet " stepsisters - I can just imagine what their rehearsals were like!! Well done to Andrew Stansall (Gustave), Robert Taylor (Monsieur Bagette), Luke Harriott (Crouton) and Joe Bacon (Christophe). Amy McGregor as Fairy Rose and Alison Stansall as Witch Thorn gave us all we needed from "the good fairy" and "the baddie witch".

The set designed and constructed "in house" by Hansel D'Roza and David Parkin worked very well. The costumes certainly brought that panto magic whether hired (Molly Limpet's Theatrical Emporium Ltd) or again "in house" made.

Well done to everyone involved on an excellent pantomime!

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