Merlin

It is so refreshing to see a new title in Pantomime and Merlin has all the right ingredients. A familiar story given a gentle twist, an outrageous Dame, a silly comic, a proper Principal Boy and Girl and an evil villain with two hopeless henchmen. Add in a songsheet , some familiar tunes , sweet throwing, and some traditional pantomime (or Music Hall) sketches and you have a everything you need for a traditional Christmas treat. Limelight Scripts version of the tale of King Arthur does just that and Riverside Players threw themselves into it with great energy and some confident acting and singing to produce an entertaining show which was fun for all the family.

The production was very well staged to create slick scene changes using a beautifully painted Camelot back cloth and lovely pastel wood roller cloth, a very well-set Merlin’s laboratory scene, a pretty scene setting false proscenium,  and two good looking practical thrones. The costumes were wonderful throughout from the Knights of the round table with added legwarmers, to the Villain’s helmet and tunic and the Jester’s excellent Ostrich costume.

Even more satisfying was lovely quality of the sound system added into the village hall with a very good mix so every spoken and sung word was heard and very good use of underscore music and stings. The cast’s good diction, smiling faces and  sparkles in their eyes told us not only that they were enjoying the show themselves but connected us in the audience to them, so we shared that pleasure.

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