Frosted

This family orientated pantomime tells the story of the love between two sisters, in a snowy setting, with a little bit of magic! Written by Warren McWilliams it includes an array of comical characters alongside the traditional duplicitous villains. 

Amlwch Showstoppers offer their young people and adults the opportunity to develop their drama skills in a friendly and supportive environment. This ethos was evident from the moment I arrived at the venue. A true feeling of community and support for the performers, was second to none.

The production started with a lively opening with super ensemble participation. We were immediately introduced to several of the main characters. Florrie, the nursemaid Dame, played by Ruth Purton, engaged excellently with the audience and encouraged participation from all. Ruth continued to guide the audience through the production, resulting in many laughs. This is not always an easy role, but Ruth achieved this beautifully. Congratulations Ruth.

Daniel Jones as Duke Wesley successfully showed the audience, he was a villainous character from the moment he arrived on stage. Well done, Daniel.

A lovely performance by Eirlys Walker as Prince Anders. Eirlys played a role that required her to deceive the princesses while making sure the audience were aware of her actual intentions. Eirlys demonstrated great stage presence, her enthusiasm shining throughout the production. A super performance Eirlys.

Gabi Purton played the character of Kristian. A laid-back character who is instrumental throughout and helps the story come to a successful conclusion. Gabi had clear, expressive diction and delivered this role with great confidence.

Sydney O'Reilly and Harriet Thompson acted the roles of the two princesses Hannah and Ella. The role of Hannah requires the actor to present as excitable but naïve, easily taken in by the prince. Sydney understood the requirements of the role and played it very well. She delivered a large amount of dialogue and sang several songs. Well done, Hannah. The part of Ella required Harriet to be troubled, conflicted and distant. Harriet achieved this role beautifully remaining in character throughout. Harriet delivered a song which required her to walk through the audience singing. A super performance Harriet.

The use of the younger versions of the girls played by Emily Lowe, Ella Owen and Ava Chelsea worked very effectively, particularly at the start of the pantomime and during the song, The Space Between Us. Well done, girls.

The character of Frosty played by Gareth O Reilly, brought lots of laughter to the production. Gareth had an easy and endearing manner when interacting with the audience. I particularly liked the performance of ‘I Can Tell We are Going to be Friends’ from Gareth and the younger cast members. Congratulations Gareth.

A wealth of supporting roles added to the pantomime. The Fairies confidently helped guide the action. The bodyguards Sinestra and Dextra provided us with a super contrast to the more friendly characters, remaining in role throughout. Kath Lewis playing Ledger was completely appropriate in this role and provided lovely vocal harmony as part of several songs. I really enjoyed Rachel Jones playing Token, a funny character played perfectly. I particularly enjoyed the ‘Sauna’ song performed by Rachel and the ensemble members. Still makes me smile when I think of it. The Heralds, Scoop, Captain Fluffy, the King and Queen and the Yeti all made a successful supporting contribution to this family pantomime. 

The musical numbers were a significant part of this production, contributing to its overall impact. Several performances stood out as particularly memorable, demonstrating both talent and dedication from the cast.

The ensemble delivered a series of impressive dance routines, showcasing the results of their hard work and commitment during rehearsals. Their effort was clearly visible in the energetic performances presented on stage. Congratulations are due to all the dancers for their wonderful contribution.

Despite the production’s extended running time, the younger members of the cast maintained their characters with remarkable consistency. Their professionalism and focus helped sustain the energy of the performance from beginning to end. Well done, to everyone involved!

The scenery and costumes were entirely suitable for the pantomime, enhancing the overall experience of the performance. The set itself was designed with simplicity in mind but proved to be highly effective in conveying the intended atmosphere.

The lighting remained consistently good throughout the show. Although there were a few issues with microphones, the dialogue and performances were generally audible, allowing the characters to be heard clearly by the audience.

The inclusion of elements such as the snow, the Tiddly Tree and the ongoing ‘fart’ joke contributed significantly to the production’s appeal. These features were particularly well received and enjoyed by those in attendance.

I am sure the producers Zoe and Jason are enormously proud of their cast as were a very appreciative audience.

Congratulations to you all! Thank you for the kind invitation to watch your production. I look forward to seeing what Amlwch Showstoppers do next.

 

This views in this report are solely the opinion of the writer.

 

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