Goldilocks and the Three Bears

One could have been sat in a Circus Big Top awaiting a show to start, although we were awaiting the start of a Pantomime. However, in a way this was a circus as this Pantomime was themed around a Circus, so this effectively designed and painted set with good lighting design and stage layout gave the audience the atmosphere of a circus. This felt true with two clowns – Dame Gertie and Silly Billy, Wild Animals – The Three Bears, Ringmaster – Heinkel. Then into Pantomime with ‘Principal Boy’ Goldilocks, ‘The Fairy’ with Mystic Sharon, the dimwitted baddie – Snot and the ‘disapproving Parent’ – Baroness Wasteland. The very colourful costumes added to this sense of fun, with the dame having the traditional range of outrageous costumes and wigs, the company having a wide variety of circus themed costumes with the principals having the appropriate well-designed costume for their character.

This was an entertaining show, with a lot of humorous one liners which unfortunately seemed to go over the heads of this Wednesday night audience making it a bit of hard work for Kevin Shippey’s Dame. Kevin as always gives us a wonderful dame and he gave us great interaction with Liam Nixon’s Silly Billy. These were a duo who not only bounced off each other but gave each other their lines giving the audience great chuckles a really good double Act. Liam always managed to look suitably bashful when his love interest, the delightful Goldilocks played by Charlotte Jodrell, appeared. This was a nicely played role bringing out the love for Silly Billy and sweetness of the character. Another nicely played role with good vocals was Chloe Keith as Snot carefully showing the stupidity of the character giving good facial expressions. One can’t go wrong with Lizzie Bryant, really in whichever role she has, and as Mystic Sharon she sang and acted with style. Lizzie may have been well cast as the ‘goodie’ but she had an equally well cast ‘baddie’ playing opposite her. In the role of Ringmaster Heinkel, we had a supremely boo-able Melissa Middleton, her costume, make-up and voice were everything that a child delights in and likes to hiss and shout at, the lighting and sound for her entrances enhanced this. Jenny Bryant gave us a good Baroness Wasteland, nicely spoken and performed. Finally, we have the three Bears, Ugne Fenton, Ebony and Ava/Nirvana (not sure which of these two I saw) who had excellent costumes and make-up and gave entertaining performances. 

There was a large company of young dancers who were well drilled with excellent co-ordination in their dancing and vocals as well. The singing for the principals was good throughout, timing and pitch, all the songs were well sung, sound balance was good however I do find that tracks do sometimes end the songs very abruptly. This was a well-directed and performed show. Congratulations to Director and Choreographers, thanks must also go to the large backstage crew as well for all they do in making the show a success, so we look forward to next years show.    

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