Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs

Thank you for your kind invitation to report on your recent production of this lovely pantomime which combines these two classic stories together around the wolf.  This was a good choice of script for this society as it gave plenty of opportunity for repartee with the audience and played to the strengths of the group.  The jokes were well devised and had some lovely plays on words that were well delivered with good energy and character. This was a truly joyous production, full of fun and laughter, with the cues for audience responses made very clear. 

The pantomime was very well planned for the use of the multiple entrances and the scenery changes. The scenery was very effective, including a backdrop of a painted woodland scene, complete with path and toadstools; a hidden door; three houses for the pigs and a campfire.  This scenery worked so well because it was fairly simple, not fussy, and created just the right homespun atmosphere for the show. The idea of dropping the words for the audience song from the balcony worked very well. 

The music and lighting were both very good, unobtrusive and on cue. The singing throughout was good, particularly from the lead characters, while the choreography was well suited to the abilities of the cast. The dance between Ursula and Red was very good, and the woodland dance had some really good moves. The costumes were lovely and inventive, especially for the pigs, with their pink headgear, ears and snouts. Fin looked wonderful in his fancy waistcoat and multicoloured hat, while the wolf was suited in grey with furry ears, hands and feet.  Ursula’s purple dress and stole were perfect for the wicked step-mother, and Will the Woodcutter totally looked the part in his waistcoat, shirt, trousers and boots.  

The Lead Characters:

Will the Woodcutter: a traditional Principal Boy, looking for love, he was amusing in his interaction with Bark and Trunk and had a good romantic partnership with Red Riding Hood.

Red Riding Hood:  an amusing depiction of a traditional Principal Girl, doing good deeds despite her cruel stepmother.  Excellent interaction with other cast members, especially with the Big Bad Wolf and in her song with Ursula and of course a happy ending with Will.

Granny:  had great stage presence particularly in the weight-loss-plan joke, and a good singing voice.  However, this depiction of the Pantomime Dame was somewhat subdued and the performance lacked the boisterous fun and bawdy liveliness the part called for.

Mr. Wolf:  giving a fine depiction of a Pantomime Baddie, he was energetic with fantastic body-language and facial expression.  His duet with Ursula was a high-spot of the show and he built an excellent rapport with the audience.  A most entertaining and talented performance.

Ursula:  wicked stepmother Ursula brought a sinister atmosphere of evil to the panto.  Beautifully portrayed in all facets of her character: facial expression, body language and voice.   An excellent performance.

Fin:  enthusiastic, energetic and lively, he was the motor of the show, keeping up the momentum and fast pace.  Excellent rapport with the audience.  A fine performance.

Bark and Trunk:  a very amusing comic partnership which brought great fun to the show - and also to the raffle draw!  Good performances.

Three Little Pigs:  three great characters with good facial expression and body-language.  Amusing reactions to the Big Bad Wolf especially when he huffed and puffed to blow their houses down. 

     Gerald:  was a good foil to gold-digger Ursula.

Jenny:  was good as Gerald’s shop assistant, diversifying the hardware stock and suffering unrequited love for Fin.

Fatman:  amusing in the weight-loss-plan visual joke, together with glamorous characters Marilyn and Sasha.

This was a lovely production of a well written and well devised pantomime, with some excellent lead characters whose energy created a really feisty storyline.  The relationships created onstage between the members of the cast were highly believable, and the action was non-stop, energetic and highly engaging.  The scenery, costumes, make-up, lighting, sound, acting, dancing and singing all contributed to a most enjoyable show. Congratulations!

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