Hansel and Gretel

It was a pleasure to be invited to view your annual pantomime again this year. Yours is a great community group with many families being involved and lots of familiar faces, saying that it is always good to see that you are happy to invite new blood to add to your company. I waited with anticipation to see what the show would bring this year.

You are an extremely lucky group with your audience. The local community always supports you well but you are also active in the local pantomime groups in the area and they always enthusiastically attend during your run. This of course gives members of your cast people to bounce responses off.

It was interesting to read in your programme that you were to present a new pantomime to you for 2024 but had chosen a script writer you have used before. Alan P. Frayn’s Hansel and Gretel was adapted from the original Brothers Grimm and included the main parts of what is a rather gruesome tale with the essential pantomime ingredients. It was therefore great to have the tale explained before the performance began.

The decorated hall was ready with a St Stephen projection on the front curtain. The lighting bar was set up across in front of the stage and was hung with a variety of Fresnel’s, spots and gobos. These were all used successfully to add dramatic detail to various scenes and enhanced the production.  ‘Night falls quickly’ was great. The main characters wore radio mics and, on the whole, these appeared to be set at a consistent level. I would like to say well done in training the majority of the children to use the stage mics when speaking during act 2. The large amount of sound effects were well placed and the audience enjoyed the snippets on the radio during the kitchen scene.

The show used different backdrops and legs during the performance to specify diverse scenes. The show travelled from the village of Mucheon Luncheon through different forest scenes and a circus big top to the Dame and Nightshades’ homes. Although I did wonder how the witch managed to get such a large kitchen into a small gypsy caravan, magic I suppose!! The additional scenery which was used and I understand brilliantly created in house, like the gypsy caravan, oven and gingerbread house were well constructed and as expected in Hansel and Gretel. The other items added detail to scenes and of the Dames’ knocker was part of one of the two prompt and reply gags. The finale staging worked extremely well with the Gingerbread House centre stage and all the cast in ordered rainbow colours placed on different levels around it. The stage crew as always were discrete and speedy.

The props used in the show were numerous and used well by the members of your cast. The circus must have given you a long list to complete but all those used added to the scenes, I especially liked the sword being swallowed. The ‘slosh scene’ worked well and was unobtrusively cleaned up. It was good that the children could remove lollies from the gingerbread house but, maybe real ones would have been easier to lick.

Your wardrobe team always pull it out of the bag and this year was no exception the amount and overall vision was outstanding. The chorus had lots of changes from the lady’s peasant blouses and dirndl skirts and gypsy style dresses to the men’s lederhosen and stockings and boots topped with uniform Tyrolean hats. The children’s outfits mirrored those of the adults with the addition of carefully constructed birds, flowers, sweets and woodland animals.  All the outfits were well fitting. The circus outfits were relevant to their acts and the circus master stood proud in his white shirt, black leggings, boots, red and yellow waistcoat and top hat. As always you think about the extra bits that make a costume look it’s best and I noticed all the uniform footwear. Time had been taken to ensure all the hairstyles were uniform although I would have liked to see Wolfgang’s off his face. The make-up was carefully applied and appropriate to the characters played. The finale looked beautiful as each member took their bow in a rainbow of colours.

The musical accompaniment to your show was provided by your Musical Director/Co-Producer ably aided by a percussionist. There were a variety of different numbers both individual, small group and company from over the eras tunefully delivered. Some of the numbers had altered lyrics which were sung clearly and added to the story. The two circus numbers brought act one to a suitable conclusion and the two finale/walk down songs ‘Colour My World’ and ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’ a good close to the action.  I think it is worth reiterating a point from last year last about ‘your practice of singing some of the songs through twice or fully added to the lateness of the performance finishing’ some of the audience around me were getting a little distracted as time went on.  I also understand that you want to make full use of your children which is a wonderful thing to do because without the younger members being trained up you will lack principals in later years. This also puts bum of seats which every pantomime group needs to do with the cost of everything rising but I did wonder if maybe the scene, just a suggestion, with the animals swaying could have been cut. They still had their own moment to shine. Please accept these comments as solely my own opinion. You all work extremely hard to produce an excellent show every year.

Your choreographer created a variety of routines, some intricate, which were obviously well rehearsed and danced by your members. They were all in sync when working with partners, in small groups or when divided in half they completing mirrored movements in unison. The children’s routines were lovely and the woodcutters slap, stamp dance was delivered with aplomb by all those involved.

The show began with a prologue between Bluebell the good fairy and Nightshade the wicked witch. It was good to see that they both delivered their lines in the expected parts of the stage. The fairy was clothed in white and silver dress with flowered detail and a floaty silver and blue overskirt this was topped with a multicoloured wig, spiked headdress, sparkly shoes and a fern topped wand. She delivered her rhyming lines in a clear strong voice and sang her two solos with feeling. Nightshade was diametrically opposite to the sweet fairy she arrived on stage with self-assurance. Her purple dress, impressive hat with bent point decorated with leaves burgundy cloak, black accessories and striking grey wig made her look correct. But what made this actor stand out were the constant gesticulations, witchy voice and cackle she had developed and maintained throughout the performance, except when she softened her tone a little with the children and put on a smarmy tone when speaking to the prince. A fantastic performance, what a baddy! I loved the fact that the night I watched she was on top of the heckling from the children at the front. At this point I would also like to mention Nightshade’s accomplices Russell and Cheryl Crow. The raucous pair certainly looked the part in black feather costumes, Basque, skirt (I’m sure I recognised this pattern!) leggings, boots and gloves for the female and leather like vest top, long coat, trousers, boots and goggles for the male. Both wore long black crow like feathered masks which their text could be heard through. I liked the addition of colour to their finale costumes. They both added energy, menace, bird like movements and humour to their scenes and their songs with the witch and movement with the additional chorus members were delivered with panache.

Hansel and Gretel’s family arrived on the stage the children looked just right in their red and white outfits with Tyrolean hat and stripped hairband. Hansel certainly had a cheeky way about him and delivered his text with a great turn of phrase, Gretel spoke well but was a little quieter their well know song was tunefully sung. I expect to see these two again. The actor portraying their hen-pecked father Fritz was excellent in his lederhosen outfit with Austrian hat, it is easy when you are opposite a strong personality to be over shadowed but his character was very clear. Yes, he did as he was told but there was a certain look he used and he delivered the innuendos with a twinkle. His harridan of a wife Hildegard was another matter in brown and cream outfit, boots, Princess Leia black coils and tiny feathered hat. It was great to see her dolly bag contained real bread. Her stance immediately demonstrated her personality. She was brilliant in the role and maintained her strong German controlling accent throughout only slipping up for a few moments when she was released from the spell and it popped back for the finale. I enjoyed her sneering looks and her stamping ‘eins zwei drei ‘walk to the woods was very funny, maybe one less trip across the stage would have saved time and still given the same effect! It was great to see them happy and spell free at the end.

Next we were introduced to Peggy’s silly son Wally the comedy lead in his bright red, yellow and white coloured outfit with striped socks, boots and red Tyrolean hat with large flower. The kitchen outfit was equally bright and his wig and make up all added to his character. He was full of energy from the moment he arrived on the stage and ensured his one liners and prompt and reply gag was well delivered and replied too.  He gave an outstanding performance and interacted brilliantly with all on stage and the audience. I’m surprised he could speak at all after he had been splatted in the ‘slosh scene‘.

Basil and Nutmeg worked well together to add a bit of light relief to the story. There was great camaraderie between them with their hair brained schemes popping up during the show. Basil the forester and game keeper was attired in green breeches, checked shirt, waistcoat, matching cap and boots and of course his stand out feature were his bushy sideburns. He delivered his text clearly with Nutmeg’s back slapping help. Nutmeg the forager, was dressed in orange and brown with a wonderful large decorated straw hat her text was a little quiet at times and therefore context was sometimes lost. Their duet was lovely and melodiously sung.  I enjoyed waiting to see what was coming out of her basket next.

Prince Johann was regally dressed in cream trousers a turquoise jacket with lime green trim, a matching pillbox hat with a feather and boots. His stance was as expected for a principal boy, his speeches were delivered at a good volume but a little rapidly sometimes.  He was accompanied by Wolfgang his equerry clothed in less vibrant burgundy, purple and black. He spoke clearly and interacted well with his master. The love interest for the Prince was provided by Peggy’s pretty daughter Heather who captured his heart. She wore an off the shoulder purple dress with turquoise acessories. She certainly knew what she wanted and was determined to achieve it, well played. I enjoyed her interaction with Fitz as well, his expressions were brilliant.

The ringmaster Klaus gave a strong performance with good stance and diction, he constrolled his wide variety of well adorned circus acts well.

Otto looked wonderful and moved with bird like actions across the stage. He had carefully learnt his lines and spoke them with feeling to the audience.

What to say about your Dame! He was certainly a man in a wonderfully selection of well constructed colourful outfits, although I would have liked to have seen a collar or frill around the neck of the yellow top with flowered detail becasue you could see her bra. The finale outfit was exceptional and must of taken many hours to make what detail was included! It was great to see she had bloomers under her hoop and the long wig, make up and hair accessories all added to the overall image. She was constantly on the move, interacting with those on stage and the audience. You could hear everything she said and her comic timing was on point. She sang with confidence and the words of the songs were cleverly written.  It is obvious that this actor has a great deal of  experience and can react to any situation and the less said about her knocker the better. Congratulations.

Your company came up trumps again. The show was exceptional, everyone on stage knew what was expected of them and delivered it spectacularly. But this of course could not happen without the other members behind the scenes who do not get the accolades from the audiences.  Many congratulations to you all.

Disclaimer 

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance and it is inevitable that his assessment will be affected by that knowledge. 

The NODA Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular, the performance.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre. 

 It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions.

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