Hansel and Gretel

Visiting St Paul's on Friday night I was a bit apprehensive, as I have never seen Hansel and Gretel before. In terms of the ‘traditional elements’ of panto, everything you might expect was here from the ‘oh yes it is’ routines to an audience sing-a-long, plenty of weak puns plus a few topical corny jokes.

All the cast seemed to be enjoying themselves and this was reciprocated by an enthusiastic audience. It’s difficult to single out specific performances from a large and very able cast of 20 crammed on to such a small stage. There was a strong sense of team camaraderie with performances with no one actor being dominant, unlike certain other panto’s.

Hansel and Gretal has a very weak story line, and at times I felt a bit lost. Director Kelly Harrington and Choreographer Lacey Corder, worked their magic and it certainly showed in the simple but effective movement and dance for the cast. Well done ladies. Costumes were as usual great and in period, as was the set, lovely painted backcloths. All in all this was a well rounded Hansel and Gretal and well done to St Pauls. I’m always greeted well and I love coming to see you enjoying yourselves up there and keeping Pantomime alive. Just one gripe from me the opening music needed to be a bit livelier, to get us in the mood for the evening

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