Big Top Beauty & The Beast

This was a brand new pantomime that had a completely new outlook whilst being totally traditional in its concept.  Written by a previously regular performer of the Players pantos, Charlie Vincent with his friend Rebecca Stoppard the story was introduced by a comedy couple of ladies, complete with moustaches and French accents, Cyril and Cecil, who led us into that magical atmosphere of the circus with its evil Ringmaster, Zitrot, surrounded by all the animals and the acts. 

The fortune telling Dame, Mallory, beautifully played by Christopher Stewart with her comedic and very hard working son, Russell, (Chris Sheard) befriended Rose the Popcorn seller (Debbie Cross) and following all the bad treatment by Zitrot and his sidekicks Ruff and Tumble, they decide to leave the circus to seek their fortunes.

Elsewhere, a handsome Prince has been cursed and now lives in a dark mansion with his two servants Cyril and Cecil.  It is here that Rose, Mallory and Russell seek shelter. Rose, of course, is not afraid and befriends the Beast and all decide to return to the circus.  The inevitable fight breaks out and Zitrot is defeated, happiness reigns and all (presumably) live happily ever after.

This was a very enjoyable new slant on a pantomime assisted by very good set designs and slick scene changes.  It must have been quite a challenge for the Costume department (Carol North), having detailed and realistically different costumes for all the different acts.  I particularly liked the monkey, the snake charmer, the bearded lady and particularly the smallest young lady in the children’s chorus who was the strong man! There were some excellent performances, with good comic timing particularly from Cyril and Cecil (Tracy Mawson and Julie McGovern). 

The lighting was very patchy on the stage, the sound occasionally was very unbalanced when the orchestra of 3 almost completely drowned the singers on stage.  Some performers gave the impression of trying to be overfunny and singing horribly off key but hey – this was a pantomime and there were too many good things to let this spoil a very enjoyable evening.

This was a brand new pantomime that had a completely new outlook whilst being totally traditional in its concept.  Written by a previously regular performer of the Players pttantos, Charlie Vincent with his friend Rebecca Stoppard the story was introduced by a comedy couple of ladies, complete with moustaches and French accents, Cyril and Cecil, who led us into that magical atmosphere of the circus with its evil Ringmaster, Zitrot, surrounded by all the animals and the acts.  

The fortune telling Dame, Mallory, beautifully played by Christopher Stewart with her comedic and very hard working son, Russell, (Chris Sheard) befriended Rose the Popcorn seller (Debbie Cross) and following all the bad treatment by Zitrot and his sidekicks Ruff and Tumble, they decide to leave the circus to seek their fortunes.

Elsewhere, a handsome Prince has been cursed and now lives in a dark mansion with his two servants Cyril and Cecil.  It is here that Rose, Mallory and Russell seek shelter. Rose, of course, is not afraid and befriends the Beast and all decide to return to the circus.  The inevitable fight breaks out and Zitrot is defeated, happiness reigns and all (presumably) live happily ever after.

This was a very enjoyable new slant on a pantomime assisted by very good set designs and slick scene changes.  It must have been quite a challenge for the Costume department (Carol North), having detailed and realistically different costumes for all the different acts.  I particularly liked the monkey, the snake charmer, the bearded lady and particularly the smallest young lady in the children’s chorus who was the strong man! There were some excellent performances, with good comic timing particularly from Cyril and Cecil (Tracy Mawson and Julie McGovern).  

The lighting was very patchy on the stage, the sound occasionally was very unbalanced when the orchestra of 3 almost completely drowned the singers on stage.  Some performers gave the impression of trying to be overfunny and singing horribly off key but hey – this was a pantomime and there were too many good things to let this spoil a very enjoyable evening.

This was a brand new pantomime that had a completely new outlook whilst being totally traditional in its concept.  Written by a previously regular performer of the Players pantos, Charlie Vincent with his friend Rebecca Stoppard the story was introduced by a comedy couple of ladies, complete with moustaches and French accents, Cyril and Cecil, who led us into that magical atmosphere of the circus with its evil Ringmaster, Zitrot, surrounded by all the animals and the acts.  

The fortune telling Dame, Mallory, beautifully played by Christopher Stewart with her comedic and very hard working son, Russell, (Chris Sheard) befriended Rose the Popcorn seller (Debbie Cross) and following all the bad treatment by Zitrot and his sidekicks Ruff and Tumble, they decide to leave the circus to seek their fortunes.

Elsewhere, a handsome Prince has been cursed and now lives in a dark mansion with his two servants Cyril and Cecil.  It is here that Rose, Mallory and Russell seek shelter. Rose, of course, is not afraid and befriends the Beast and all decide to return to the circus.  The inevitable fight breaks out and Zitrot is defeated, happiness reigns and all (presumably) live happily ever after.

This was a very enjoyable new slant on a pantomime assisted by very good set designs and slick scene changes.  It must have been quite a challenge for the Costume department (Carol North), having detailed and realistically different costumes for all the different acts.  I particularly liked the monkey, the snake charmer, the bearded lady and particularly the smallest young lady in the children’s chorus who was the strong man! There were some excellent performances, with good comic timing particularly from Cyril and Cecil (Tracy Mawson and Julie McGovern).  

The lighting was very patchy on the stage, the sound occasionally was very unbalanced when the orchestra of 3 almost completely drowned the singers on stage.  Some performers gave the impression of trying to be overfunny and singing horribly off key but hey – this was a pantomime and there were too many good things to let this spoil a very enjoyable evening.

 

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