Little Red Riding Hood

Ryan Price and his creative team had been given a cracker of a script written by company member Diana Andre. This enabled him to give the audience a traditional pantomime cleverly mixed with modern references such as The Traitors, Facebook (Fairybook) Strictly and Dragons’ Den. Every joke or pun was used and everyone had a moment on the front row. We were asked to ensure our mobile phones were switched off in true panto style and the opening started with energy and 100% commitment from the mixed age cast. Zoe Hunt’s choreography matched the different music choices and the abilities within the different groups of the cast. The band was excellent under the baton of Tony Trott but was over amplified at times so we lost some words. Emily Bonfield conducted the company in her role as Assistant Musical Director.

There was a strong set of principals led by Ella Rowsell as a kind, confident Little Red Riding Hood with a warm singing voice. Emma Letcher showed excellent physicality in her dual role as Granny Hood and the traitorous Wolf. Fairy Twinkleman, played by Jacqui Player, had a great singing voice and held our attention, helped by her fabulous suit. Jason Andre was larger than life as he tried to end Dame Hood’s loneliness whilst looking for a man and baking revolting muffins. Graeme Johnson, henceforth known as Voiceover Man, was a very funny Woody the Woodcutter and Oliver Reid as Jack interacted with the audience with ease, but I don’t think I would trust him with an axe. Amelia Szluha and Joni Andre had excellent comic timing as Goldilocks the burglar and Essex Girl Cinderella. The 3 pigs were a delight. Alex Thomas as Hamlet Trotter, the most sensible one, James Player as Kevin Bacon, the camp extrovert and Reece Hannigan as Matthew Hamcock, scared of everything and please don’t ask him to do any maths. I particularly enjoyed the Piggy Time musical number and the 3 of them led the audience sing along with enthusiasm. Smaller parts were also played confidently and I must congratulate Millie Reid as The Gingerbread Man who opened Act 2 on her own.

The set was very clever and deceptively simple. The row of Fairyland shops opened up to take us inside the Muffin Emporium or in to Granny’s Cottage. The cast moved the cake counter but I thought there were too many blackouts and perhaps the performers could have done more. The props were relevant but a bit ordinary at times, Woody needed a larger axe for example. I did like Fairy Twinkleman’s glitterball wand and the mops used as air guitars.

The costumes helped us identify the characters and matched the settings well and Dame Hood’s dresses were suitably outrageous, even if she did wear the wrong bloomers! There was some added glamour and sparkle for the finale and I laughed when Cinderella retrieved her mobile from her bun. Granny’s Wolf mask was excellent as the mouth moved as she spoke and howled. The lighting was effective as it changed for different locations and moods.

This was a very enjoyable evening out. We were given a warm welcome, met the creative team, booed, cheered, laughed and sang along. Thank you Centre Stage, we’ll be back.

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