Little Red Riding Hood

A Pantomime script that opens with dialogue from A Midsummer Night's Dream between Titania and her husband Oberon is none too common.   One knew therefore straightway that the director Roland Butcher had chosen a challenging script for this pantomime.   Moreover, Roland had also to play, at short notice, both Oberon and Rice Pudding the Pieman on Saturday 1st February, which to his great credit he did extremely well, as did Natalie Davies as Queen Titania.  That Titania referred to the immortal Bard as "Billy Shakingspeare" in her first few lines reassured us that we were firmly in Pantoland however!

Evil in this production was represented by Daniel Williams as Maigor, the wicked magician.   He was suitably believable in this important role.     Bill Pilcher as Grandpa, who was transformed into Big Bad Wolf for most of the Panto was authentic in both roles.

The principal boy was Vikki Powell playing Prince Valiant, well cast with long legs and thigh slaps aplenty (the slaps not the legs!).    The Prince's Squire, Humbly Grumbly, as a cowardly servant who hated danger and only craved comfort was given authenticity by Graham Taylor.    Victoria Arnold as Red Riding Hood is very young but had great poise and she revelled in the title role.     She is an accomplished dancer too, as she showed.   Her acting and diction was of a high order and I feel she is destined for many leading role in years to come.

Kristine Heaton as Tapioca Pudding wife to Rice Pudding took full advantage of the script to wring every comic effect from her character.   I much enjoyed her performance.    Chris Dews as Grandma, the dame role,  was also comically OTT with several nice touches and made the part his own.

Polly Pickle (Sharon Welland), object of Simple Simon Pudding's devotion, played her part with great relish and one felt sympathy for Simon whose dopey face and manner ensured that the audience was always on his side - take a bow Robert Clark.

The two incompetent baddies Evers O'Greedy (Felix Cuthbert) and Willemina Weasel (Julia Heathcote) also added much to the enjoyment.    Prudence Pudding (Nicki Payne) who eventually won the hand of the cowardly Squire Humbly Grumbly, also made much of the role and showed her stage experience.

Kate Welland as "Woofie" the dog did well in the difficult "skin" part and finished off Maigor the evil  Magician when she caused the magic potion to spill on him.

Young Jago Clark as the wolf cub and narrator showed great presence and clear diction.  Again, one to watch.

Lastly, Julia Allen-Patel, Louisa Worby and Aisling Warren-Green as the hunters/wolves and comic ballerinas can feel proud of themselves.    Their ballet scene was one of the highlights of the show.

The music, under M.D. Leighton Davies, was well chosen and supported the singers whilst never drowning the voices, as so often happens.    Choreography  by Nicki Payne, who was also assistant director, was simple but effective, with the chase scene well organised.    The set, designed by Roland Butcher and Nicki Payne, was kept sensibly minimal on the smallish stage.   Wardrobe under Jean Taylor was effective and the masks by Anne Lyth were very realistic in true Panto style.    Lighting by George Hemingway and James Martin was sure and added atmosphere where necessary.   The lighting effect for Maigor's scenes was particularly good.

This was a well directed and competently performed production.   It was good to see a slosh scene, as slosh, though traditional, is often absent now.    Two minor gripes though.   I thought the Dame's part  in this script was under-used, as the dame role is such as massive and integral part of panto.   It also jarred with me that evil Maigor made exits on stage-right.   Some things should be sacrosanct - good stage-right and evil stage-left!!

As ever, thank you for making Sue and me so welcome.

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