Once Upon a Fairytale

Many thanks for your lovely welcome it certainly seemed like a long time since you have been able to produce a show for your large enthusiastic audience. Alex explained what had happened in the missing years and I’m so glad you have all been able to pull together to produce a ‘local panto for local people’ with many new members and an over 16’s show later in the year. What a productive group you are!

The stage, which was draped with black cloths, was set up at the front of the hall with steps down to the hall set at stage left and a piano stage right.  In the centre of the playing area there was a podium covered in a cloth on which was propped a story book with ‘Magical Story Book’ as a title.  The hand pulled curtain on the stage opened up the playing area to allow larger groups to perform. The additional scenery used added detail to the projected scenes I especially liked the bed for Princess P. The props created by you were well used by the players although I did get a little confused when the Magic Mirror moved outside her circle.

As a small village group, you are extremely lucky to have a Tech Director and Tech team whose skills takes the pantomime to another level. They added depth and illusion and pulled the audience into the show. It was brilliant to actually watch the beanstalk authentically growing. The lighting was good and the additional sound effects added complexity and reality to the scenes.

Many of the songs were delivered to backing tracks which I totally understand and were set at an appropriate level but I did feel that some of the larger group numbers may have been a little out of time, maybe make more use of your pianist, just a personal comment.

The simple dance routines were set at a level that all those involved could comfortably achieve successfully.

The costumes were all appropriate to the fairy tale they were set in and enhanced the enjoyment of the performance. They were well fitted and aided the actors to relate to their characters.

The action began in a wooded area with a waterfall where a mystery figure in white arrived and removed the book. The audience soon realised she was the Evil Snow Queen who we found out was upset because her story was not at the beginning of the fairytale book. She looked resplendent in her white dress, cloak and tiara. Her text was well delivered, her stance upright, she delivered her songs with gravitas and had a wonderful witchy cackle. She callously ripped Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood and the Little Mermaid out of the book to boos from the audience.

We were then greeted by a new character who we discovered was the Magic Mirror which was cleverly portrayed by an actor carrying around a t-shaped wooden stand with a hoop on the top which represented the mirror stand they were both resplendently bedecked in silver. The addition of a fur coat in the ice castle certainly worked well. She gave a lovely animated performance ensuring her text was clearly heard and sang tunefully ‘Stuck in the Mirror’ was great. Realising she needed help she successful enlisted the audience in helping with a chant to recruit the Fairy Godmother. Who looked the part in a white and silver outfit with tiara and wand she had a kindly determined manner and delivered her lines well. I felt she was a little tentative when singing ‘Kiss the Girl’ but the audience assisted.

The curtain was opened to total chaos on the stage it transpired that all the characters in the fairy tales were in uproar in a very cold room following the Snow Queen’s visit, and wondering what to do.  IMACLOT was brilliant on Widow Twankey and we met a very different Cinderella than ones I’ve encountered before. She might have looked the part in white and blue but was very stroppy with a habit of wiping her nose on her hand. They group were certainly a noisy bunch and the Fairy Godmother took charge. It was decided that someone was needed to go on a quest to find the book and restore order. Ollie and Serena were chosen and so began their mission. Ollie looked like a traditional principal boy in shirt, waistcoat, leggings and boots and Serena in dress and cloak/cape carrying a large bag over her shoulder.  They had been well cast, created strong characters, interacted brilliantly together and sang with aplomb.

Thus began their travels through many tales. Their first stop was in a garden with a lovely wishing well this was the home of Jack and his mum, he looked just right attired in tights, shorts and a shirt. Jack proceeded to sing the well-known ‘There’s a Hole in my Bucket’ because he needed to water his plants, with his mother answering from off stage. Following water being added from the flask, magically in front of our eyes a tremendous beanstalk grew. As expected, Jack went up the beanstalk and sent a lovely grey fluffy Charlie Chicken down who was well played.  As a reward for their help a golden egg was placed in Serena’s bag.

The next scene took us to an impressive ice castle where the Snow Queen was desperately trying to find a secure hiding place for the book. Part of her team was a snowflake called Flakey. This young actor looked great, had brilliant stance and attitude, every word was clearly projected, well done.

The curtain closed and Ollie and Serena carried on their quest and were met by Morris and Cole Miner; the miner’s choice of names was inspired. As expected, the next projection was the tin mine with ‘9 to 5’ sung by the group, Snow White was dressed in yellow, white, blue and red this young lady had a great sincere delivery and encompassed the part. Two more miners joined the group, Ruan and Sargeant Miner who was definitely in charge marching around with his swagger stick tucked under his arm. All the miners created believable characters looked just right but remember where your audience is and say your lines to them rather than upstage. Their problem was explained to Serena and Ollie and an impressive red dragon’s head appeared on stage with pointed fangs, growling. As a hero does Ollie donned his mask and examined the dragon’s mouth and found a rotten tooth. With the assistance of those present on stage, a union flag and an excerpt of Rule Britannia they succeeded in pulling out the damaged tooth which promoted flossing with movements to the audience. The reward this time was a diamond and the first half closed with a rousing ‘Best Day of my Life’.

The Evil Snow Queen opened the second half powerfully with the Bon Jovi ‘It’s my Life ‘ensuring the audience were in no doubt that she was going to succeed.

The next projection was of a laundry with additional scenery and plastic tubs. Widow Twankey dressed in pink and green with clothing all over her she was certainly a man in a dress, delivering text, singing clearly and giving us lots of the, expected pantomime gags. But she did not have a happy workforce they were fed up with Goldilocks clothes with porridge on, Jack’s bean stains and Shrek’s smelly socks so they were on strike! The laundry staff led by their foreman made their feelings clearly known. Therefore, an opening was made for two members of the audience to help which they did with aplomb. Serena and Ollie assisted and ended up with an apron and big y-fronts which Ollie wore. Serena’s bag was filling up.

Another volunteer from the audience was awarded with sweets after helping the Magic Mirror give her mirror a clean.

The action then moved to a princess’ bedroom with a striking bed. What an impressive actor the young lady portraying the Princess was. Her costume was just right and she had created a bossy, demanding character who knew what she wanted and spoke every line with clarity. A compliant well played Maid Mary suitable dressed in a nightdress, dressing gown and mop cap was continually summoned to add, change and remove items but nothing helped and the Princess still couldn’t sleep. A cute, smiley, wiggling spider was removed and eventually the ‘cat-scan’ revealed the P which was placed in Serena’s bag letting both the Princess and the maid get to sleep.

The plot thickened as the Evil Snow Queen realised that her plans weren’t working and therefore had to take steps to split the adventurer’s up.

The next fairy tale became evident when Serena and Ollie arrived at a kitchen with an oven burning and two children behind bars. The key for the door was across the room but the floor couldn’t be touched therefore your hero Ollie donned his sunglasses and with the ‘Mission Impossible’ music being played retrieved the key and released the well-played Hansel and Gretel who were dressed in complimentary blue and white outfits. ‘We Can Do Whatever We Want To Do’ was brilliantly sung by the group and the key placed in the bag.

Everything was going well but the Evil Snow Queen’s plan began to work when Serena eats a sweet for the Gingerbread House. She changed character and became very sullen which confused Ollie but good will always triumph and although the Queen tried to get Serena to feed Ollie the poisoned apple he refused and she collapsed leaving Ollie lost. Following the quiet rendition of ‘Kiss the Girl’ he complied and she woke up. They found their way into the ice palace and with Flakey taking a tea break were able to decipher the clues for Serena’s bag and with your cleverly constructed board able to put the egg, diamond, y-fronts, apron, P and key in order to find out how to release the fairy tale book. This as often happens led to a final twist and their hands don’t scan but luckily an audience member’s does.

As always happens in a pantomime the good beats the evil and the Fairy Godmother gave the Evil Snow Queen an ultimatum which she accepted, obviously she didn’t fancy being an Iceland employee.

Just a little comment about your pantomime song it might have helped if some words were available for the adults luckily the children knew it.

We find out Serena and Ollie’s parentage and realise why they were able to assist in the downfall of the Evil Snow Queen and the show concluded with a joyous rendition of ‘We Go Together’ with hand jive moves followed by all the members of the cast having their final moment with their names clearly displayed on the scene.

This was joyous, just what it said in the programme a pantomime for local people with lots of local reference that the audience loved. The script had a tale to tell which was easy to follow with all the expected features. You are extremely lucky to have so much talent within your community both in front of and behind the curtain.

Many thanks for a lovely evening’s entertainment and congratulations to all.

Disclaimer 

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance and it is inevitable that his assessment will be affected by that knowledge. 

The NODA Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular, the performance.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre. 

 It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions.

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