Beauty & The Beast

A tres bon storyline with a French theme running through this title and very encouraging to see so many young members taking part in both principal and chorus work, co-directing and choreographing too. First time directors Kim & Aria dedicated this pantomime to Emma Priest a sadly missed member of the Woodchurch Players' panto family, and they did her proud. The Beast himself was also the Musical Director - the numbers being enthusiastically performed to backing tracks. Adding some great co-ordinated movement and the magic of the techie team, Tim Nolan with his exciting lighting effects especially the coloured rays from the batons set front stage and those dancing on the ceiling, Eliot Gannon at the audio desk assisted by Tommy Kent, this was an enjoyable visit to the village of Franglais-Sur-Mer and certainly a good place to have a very special beauty treatment!

The sets were particularly well presented – a colourful opening village scene, and excellent enchanted castle depicting a red carpeted staircase even dropping in a candle lit twinkling chandelier as well as one on a stand feast table. The entrance gates set central stage curtains either side effective. Hanging was a large gold framed portrait of Prince Danton himself. On either side of stage hung panels where various locations and action was projected. The beauty salon was fully equipped with transformation cabinets which did extraordinary things plus a novel idea of a drier that gave Madame Fifi some strange and very comical hair dos together with the central gates to the castle working well all created by the dedicated Backstage Crew and props providers and managed by Neil Vincer. Added to the mix were the costumes created by the wardrobe ladies Nicola Davy and Lyn McGuckin, certainly with a continental look – wonderful. The French maid’s short black and white billowing creation that Fifi appeared in as she flitted around with her large feather duster was great.

Opening the story sparring partners Belladonna menacingly played costumed in dark shades with a super marching turban, evil laugh and orb Sheila Ross challenged in rhyme Flora a delightful good fairy costumed in the prettiest of dresses of rose material. Amelia waved her magic wand and delivered her words with such confidence and clarity.

Strategically placed were the red roses lovingly grown by jolly scientist Alphonse played by Robbin Smith usually a baddie turns his hand to speaking part of his script in French. Daughter Belle is a kind hearted, young girl with Isobel playing this principal role with such charm. Of course, Prince Danton, regally attired well characterised by Aria falls for Belle and naturally our baddie wants him and in jealousy casts the spell turning him into the Beast and slowly the roses die one by one. These are not your typical ugly sisters, but Belle endures Whitney and Britney, fun loving, outrageously common, comedic pair obsessed with dubious beauty products and procedures. Two talented performers Holly and Charlotte gave such character to these terrible two. Strutting his stuff was James Harper as Madame Fifi, housekeeper to Alphonse, tickled a few fancies and succumbed to some remarkably interesting hair dos and I just loved the beard in the French colours! Adrian donned the French stripes and ze beret plus a string of onions to become Fifi’s foolish sidekick lazy son. Maestro Jamie Greenlees roared

As the imposing, fearsome Beast who with Belle’s encouragement was tamed and movingly learns to become friendly and to dance. Together Ava and Gracie paired as the beauticians who comically created havoc with the potions, lotions and procedures. Another fun cameo character was Le Fou in specs, doctors coat and hair that looked like he had experienced an electric shock - Jenny McGuckin playing this rather strange local asylum chief. I would also congratulate Etham in his portrayal of the handsome village six pack Casanova. Other members of the young cast became villagers, and an array of culinary magical characters in the form of a plate, fork and spoon at the castle feast. The finale – a successful conclusion of course with Danton restored as the Prince getting his girl Belle, and good overcoming evil.   

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.