Goldilocks and the Three Bears

After a somewhat fraught journey northwards on the A19 I arrived just in time to have all my stress dissolve away at the start of Jarrow’s seasonal offering this year in the shape of Tom Whalley’s ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’. As ever Tom’s script hit the mark being humorous but without being overly risqué.

The musical combo led by Freda Carney started their overture inevitably with the ‘Teddy Bears Picnic’ before the curtain opened onto a veritable sea of energy with everyone moving in one synchronised colourful fluid mass as we were introduced to the cast members with a ‘nod’ briefly to their characteristics.

Inevitably as befits true panto you have a villain and a good fairy, a ‘silly’ character, a dame and a love interest. Throw in Three Bears, one of them a cute ‘Baby’ Bear, and you have a recipe for success.

Failing circus owner Dame Gertie (Grayson Wood) played grotesquely in splendid lime green wig and outlandish make up is prime for hostile takeover by the villain of the show ‘Heinkle’ played with the right amount of Teutonic accent and arrogance by Phil Stabler. Grayson and Phil traded quips and insults much to the audiences glee. The audience was very much in ‘Team’ Gertie camp as Heinkle was a thoroughly obnoxious character. Of course every villain needs a slightly dimmer sidekick. This was supplied in the form of ‘Snot’ performed in a suitable subservient manner by Luke Carr.

Of course every villain needs a ‘good’ counterpart but instead of a traditional ‘fairy’ Jillaine Hindson served up to us a Scouse ‘Mystic Sharon’ – I don’t know what it is about the scouse accent that makes the name ‘Sharon’ sound common, and Jillaine used it to great effect as she delivered all her libretto in rhyming dialogue as befits a ‘good fairy’.

Goldilocks (Kelsey Holder) was ‘love interest’ for Silly Billy (Joe Coulson). These two worked well together with lovely vocals from both of them and fine audience empathy. A quick word of admiration for Joe who came into the role with four weeks to opening night after original actress Frances Wood had to have a scheduled hospital appointment brought forward. Recover well Frances.
Joe meanwhile was truly superb in his stage presence proving what a great performer he is (and a total contrast to his last role for Jarrow).

Kelsey had the audience eating out of her hand as her ambition to join the circus was thwarted by her father ‘Baron Wasteland’ played strictly by Ken Richardson. Despite his opposition to his only daughter joining the circus he was to save the day later in the show.

Meanwhile Heinkle’s plan to take over Gertie’s circus are scuppered when Gertie employs three dancing bears which causes a significant rise in the fortunes of the big top. The three bears were each played in a non-frightening benevolent way by ‘Mammy Bear’ (Helen Richardson), Daddy Bear (Neil Hindson) with a pronounced ‘Brummie’ accent which somehow seemed appropriate to a family of bears?

Making the trio up was the massively cute and supremely talented ‘Baby Bear’ (Phoebe Harvey) who sang and danced her way into the audiences hearts. The role was double cast with Izzy Dowdall who I’m told is equally as talented and cute. Well done to both.

Principals need a good ensemble to support them and boy did they get one. The mainly young ensemble were all good dancers and remainded in group after Oliver! Joanna Barron's choreography had a variety of styles from a very impressive tap routine to a superb acrobatic dance routine by five girls (Catherine Purvis, Harriet Wright, Grace Woodrow, Emily Don and Milli Porri) Their moves had my jaw dropping (from an old guy who struggles to pull his socks on in a morning LOL).

For a first night there was the odd glitchs which were generally covered with humour by a confident-in-their-art cast.

Costumes were very good (or in the case of Dame Gertie – outrageous), sound, lights and staging up to the high standards set by previous productions, choreography outstanding, choice of music appropriate and direction from Michelle great.

A wonderful start to the Christmas season – I look forward and can’t wait to you utilising the loads of youthful talent in ‘School of Rock’ in May.

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