Goldilocks and the 3 Bears

This evening we had the pleasure of seeing the opening night of Goldilocks, a story we all know well ,but for me the first time I have seen it performed .

The audience were immediately greeted by a full stage of talented youngsters singing It's a Beautiful day , an uplifting start to the panto. Enter Auntie Septic ,played so well by Gavin Ward. . His opening gambit,typical panto one liners ,comic entrance , beautiful interaction with the audience set the scene for what followed , including a well timed prompt from a young chorus member. Sadly I felt the audience didn't react enough in the early stages , which was a pity as the delivery was excellent, and panto is  so reliant on audience participation. By no means the fault of the performers. 

Enter Ray .. Rachel Cooper Bassett .. well done, such wonderful comic moments ,and how to use a door to such clever effect. The entrance of Ellie Ashmore, as Goldilocks perfectly fitting the title with her flowing golden hair.Later in the panto enter  the Goldilocks version of Dick Whittington ,Julie Ballin as Tomtom ,as principal boy as always out to get the girl . That is why we love panto . But of course every panto needs a baddy, enter Tommy Jones,Queen Bee, along with the  Bee brigade of Barbabee,Penelobee,Buzzbee Wannabee and the work experience wasp Kevin, played in order by Sarah Betts,Gayle Hazelby ,Beth Black, Sue Treece and Adam Chapman. What fun they created with their antics,songs and well executed scenes. 

Of course no wood is complete without some woodchoppers ... Splinter and Choppit, aptly named and so well performed by Cara Chester and Louise Humpage , who complemented each other with some excellent timing ,bringing smiles every time they appeared .

Finally you can't have Goldilocks without  some bears ,Daddy Bear, Richard Gilson, Mummy Bear Lindsey Ashmore and baby Bear Lily Ward, played out their characters really well during all their varying scenes. 

This production had so many special moments so to name a few, Ugly Bug Ball,Buzz Buzz Busy Bee, a very well executed UV scene, never easy to perform but my congratulations to all the puppeteers who performed it so well.

I thought the ..If I were not upon this stage song  ....was performed with such excellent timing,and so funny .Blue Ridge Mountain,Wonder Woman,including some speedy costume changes and on odd occasions a lack of velcro creating some classic costume moments. 

Act 2 opened to an excellent knee ballet ,so amusing.The production team did so well to include so many of the current affairs within the digging a hole number, High Viz and helmets, reference of being more ecological,reduction in plastics, whilst the Goldilocks story continued we were treated  to many cleverly worked numbers ... We will rock you,...Bohemian Rhapsody and many others. 

Compliments to the whole society who produced a set of simplicity with some beautiful art work and a quality backcloth..The music was really well delivered by your multi talented MD Anne Singleton, and musicians. The lighting worked very well throughout and whilst the set caused a couple of tricky moments everything went really well. 

I must say how pleasing it is to see such a large junior ensemble who thoroughly threw themselves into the whole production, and compliments to those with lines , all delivered clearly and with confidence . 

Sylvia and I would like to thank everyone at Dronfield for your hospitality and to say how much we enjoyed our evening. A genuine family pantomime performed very well by all the principal characters, and well supported by the ensemble . I wish you all success for the remainder of the run.Well done to the whole team, onstage and off, beautiful costumes,great scenes ,lots of fun and sending people home with smiles on their faces. 

One small point , I would like to see a reference within your programme that you are Noda members. The Noda sign underwritten with ..Be inspired by Amateur theatre , would be great. 

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