Puss in Boots

I have to confess to never having seen Puss in Boots before, I’m not sure if it is one which is not done very often, however I note LIDOS last did this panto around eight years ago.

This production had all the ingredients of a great panto, calling for plenty of hissing, booing and oh no it isn’t etc and that is exactly what is was, a great panto.

In the title role Kayleigh Newsome was perfect, not only able to strut around the stage in The Boots but she was also able to deliver some fine singing and dancing too, for me she was the perfect person for this part.

On her travels Puss meets Jack who it turns out is The Marquis of Carrabas but who had become estranged from his family. Step in Sophie Massa who was superb in this character, Sophie is always able to deliver the goods no matter what the production or character she is playing, her and Kayleigh proved to be an excellent pairing.

Jack falls in love with the beautiful Princess Esmeralda played with conviction by Kirsty Barnes, she not only looked the part of a Princess, she was able to act and sing the part too.

As with all good pantos here we had a Fairy, or in this case Fairy Priscilla and what do you need for a great fairy character? Someone who looks the part, can act the part and of course can sing the part too, enter Adele Kirby who was brilliant, each entrance she got better, looking to me like Kate Middleton. When Fairy Priscilla sang When You Wish Upon a Star with the company and young dancers it was breath-taking.

As well as a good fairy there is usually a bad fairy too, here we had Bad Fairy Pernicia with Jenny Wemyss delivering a great character as evil as possible. Bad Fairy Pernicia is of course working for her master, Grimgrab the Ogre who was in the more than capable hands of Matthew Tempest, again Matthew was wonderfully evil and managed to get a great deal of hissing and booing, especially from the younger members of the audience, they also loved the magic when Grimgrab turned himself in to a Lion and then a Mouse.

Mark Gale was the Dame in this piece, or should I say Dame Wendy, each time he entered the stage he managed to wear more and more outlandish costumes and wigs, he pranced, and I mean that in the best possible way, around the stage much to the delight of the audience members.

Mark had a good foil in the guise of Bobbie, who was the “Simple Simon” character here, Megan Bassett was outstanding, again like Mark running around the stage ensuring everyone was entertained to the full, giving 110% each time she entered the stage.

Every good Queen has to have a King and here we had King Wally, who if truth were known that is just what he was and Graham Siddle was perfect, not that I am saying Graham is a Wally, he certainly isn’t but was able to act the character to the full.

Puss in Boots does not have a comedy duo, they have a comedy trio in Jasper, Babs and Betty played by Emma Cole, Emily Carter and Nathalie Hall respectively. All three were able to give the audience exactly what they wanted, some good old fun and laughter, getting in and sometimes out of scrapes ensuring everyone was well and truly entertained.

All the principal characters were ably supported by a wonderful chorus, troupe of dancers as well as a great kids chorus and dancers.

The production of team of Claire Hoyland and Emma Thomson as Directors, Robert Sanders as MD and Emma Tempest and Donna Wells as Choreographers all must be congratulated for delivering another excellent production.

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