It's Panto

Well, Centre Stage have come up trumps again. Oh no they haven't I hear you say. Well Oh yes they have. Not only have they nurtured one of the regions excellent talents over the last few years they have now pegged him down to not only, co write but to also direct and star in this years panto. Glen Cavers and Beth Smith have written this years production and how well they have done it. For a first attempt at writing it was very well done and incorporated all the usual plots you expect to see, from the dame, to the Evil Wizard to the love interest and the panto horse. I particularly liked the way they built the story line up with the energy building up throughout the performance to the big finale where they all lived happily ever after.

A large cast filled the stage with ease and the choreography and timing was very good in the ensemble numbers. It is always good to see this panto as a community event with the involement of a lot of people from the very young upwards. Les Murray as Mrs Tinkle was good and I especially liked Christopher Tait as Buckles who had a stage prescence about him that can only be good for the company. It was good to see the audience get involved with their boos for the Evil Wizard(Sadie Cooper) who was excellent  and the he's behind you etc for the comedy elements. Hazel Jeffries and Chloe Wilkins as the under the thumb King and domineering Queen carried off their roles very well as did Zoe Little as the Good Fairy. The remainder of the cast were excellent and I could not fault anyone. Both Glen and Beth also performed as the Hero and Heroine Prince Harry and Princess Genevieve. Their singing was super and they acted their parts excellently with just the right amount of pathos

Of course no show can be performed without the assistance of the back stage crew and the lighting department and the scene changes were carried out very unobtrusively which added to the enjoyment of the whole afternoon.

Once again thank you Centre Stage Youth Theatre for a most enjoyable and entertaining production.

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