Knight Fever!

More often than not Wilburton Theatre Group step away from the tried and tested “big five” pantomimes for something different and this year was no exception.  TLC Creative’s Knight Fever! (An Arthurian Pantomime) gives an amusing twist on the legendary story of the Knights of the Round Table. 

The St Peter’s Hall stage is not overly large with very little wing space which sets extra restrictions on entrances and exits.  This, however, does not stop WTG from producing some great scenery as well as having the ability to fly a cloth - well actually they wind it up and down but it has the same effect.  Ann Sherwood’s scenery design and painting is always superb and the wood, castle corridor and prison this year were no exceptions. Margot Barber’s costumes were excellent as was Philip Mellor’s lighting design.  This year Philip had a sound operator in trainee Dylan Webb who did himself proud as both sound and lighting cues were spot on.  

With a large cast all of whom were on stage some of the time Katie Lewis’ choreography did all it needed to do and it was done well by the cast.  MD Nicole Drury did a good job as vocally talents varied quite a bit but all the main numbers were well done.  

It was lovely to see such a lovely smiley chorus (made up of Florence Brebner, Megan Goodman, Maria Lazarus, Edgar Reynolds, Felix Reynolds, Hannah Reynolds, Aiden Ruffell-Macfarlane, Liam Ruffell-Macfarlane, Mya Ruffell-Macfarlane, Charlotte Smith, Abby Wallace, Sage Watson and Rylee Weaver) supporting the main characters so well. Those with one or two lines came in on cue so well done everyone for keeping the pace up. The road sweeper had us fooled by going off one side and immediately coming back on the other! Turns out it was twins Liam and Aiden Ruffell-Macfarlane!  Well done guys. 

The main Principals were all very good. Lucy Peck was an energetically effervescent Lester the Jester.  She has a great knack of getting the audience on side from the start which is a real talent. Making his debut as a Dame was Tim Meikle splendid as Dame Doris working well with Lester and would be Knight Justin well-played by Claire-Rose Charlton and Elizabeth Smith lovely as Princess Anna. Two excellent performances from the pair of baddies  Alyssia Radford as The Black Knight and Mia Turner as Chardonnay as a not very good witch even with Merlin’s staff!  In the more minor principal roles were Nick Grant as King Arthur; Timi White as Queen Guinevere; Charlotte Forsyth as Merlin; Gerry Crowe as Sir Cumference and Jack Wright in good voice as Sir Uptitious. These were all well supported by Katie Lewis as the Lady of the Lake, Jack Grant (Herald), Bethany Webb (a trainee Herald) and Dr Agon as Fangface a fearsome dragon. (It was actually Abby Wallace hidden within the costume.)

Well done WTG Director Brian Watson, the cast and production team for providing an extremely enjoyable pre-Christmas treat. 

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