Puss in Boots

Puss In Boots, is a panto featuring a talking cat and huge, green ogre – sound familiar?  This version, written by Matthew Siveter and directed by Dawn Denman, is loosely based on the character from the Shrek movie made famous by Antonio Banderas, set in the non-existent ‘Spanish’ village of Ordsallomio.  The play opens with a scene where a dying father (strangely from Yorkshire) bequeaths two of his son’s riches and property but his third son, Bertie, he leaves only a disinterested mangy moggy. 

Enter the good Fairy Fortune (Jane Shelley) who acts as our guide to the proceedings. Jane played the role of good fairy with a wide-eyed enthusiasm that instantly set the pace for the show.  She also had a beautiful singing voice.  But every panto needs a bad guy and here we have the evil Glargomax (Sarah Mitchell) dressed in shimmering purple and oozing malice.  Sarah bantered playfully with the audience like a cat playing with a mouse, and on the night, we were there, reduced one small child to floods of tears!

Bertie (wonderfully played with winsome boyish charm by Megan Huntley) and his cat (Oliver Wood) travel the world until they end up in Ordsallomio where they meet an ensemble of Spanish themed characters.  First, we meet Alfonce played with impish good humour by Sam Taylor and the Queen of Ordsallomio, Annette Curtains (Jamie Savage).  Jamie was the perfect panto dame establishing an instant rapport with the audience in his glamorous assortment of frocks.  But every panto needs a love interest who our hero falls for at first sight and here we have Princess Lacey (Hannah Harris).  Hannah was delightful with a gorgeous soprano voice.  Her duet with Megan ‘Tonight’ was lovely and their voices blended beautifully.

Through the power of magic boots, the cat (humorously named Dave by the audience) suddenly gains the power of speech and can stand up right. This is where Oliver Wood really comes into his own, strutting around the stage, drawling his lines, and slinking around like a true feline - even coughing up fur balls!  Fairy Fortune informs him that all is not well in Ordsallomio and that a wicked orgre is threatening the village.  Dave the Cat now has a mission and quickly fills in Bertie of his plans.   Obviously, puss conquers all and wins the day but the journey there is filled with pitfalls and various short sketches that seem to have no connection with the storyline but are very funny and do not detract from the panto.   

I particularly liked the scenes with Queenie and Alfonce, providing most of the comedy, including a boxing match and a very humorous sketch featuring Disney characters which was very pacy and a tea sketch where poor Alfonce got doused in so much water I feared for the safety of his microphone.  Also, a hilarious swimming routine with Queenie in a blue shiny bikini and Alfonce as a comedy shark.  

My favourite scene. However, was an amazingly choreographed dance routine featuring Puss, Bertie, and Princess Lacey to ‘Friendship’ from ‘Anything Goes.’  Megan, Oliver, and Hannah were brilliant, dancing and singing with style in a routine which would not have looked out of place in a musical.

Other standouts were the dance breaks provided by the ‘Staples Academy of Dance’ providing ballet and tap dancing featuring an ensemble of all ages and all the choreorgraphed dance numbers.

Costumes were bright and colourful and appropriate to the Spanish theme of the show.  Lighting (Dominic Hodges and Cody McGinty) was atmospheric when needed and the stage was well lit.  Scenery was simple backdrops allowing the large ensemble room to perform and microphones were used to enhance the singing.

From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by Chairperson Vanessa Smith who introduced us to President of the Society the wonderful Betty Teanby who has served an incredible sixty years as a NODA member.  I also met my friend Shelley Harvey who was front of house organiser - small world!  The addition of a real band was also a positive with music provided by Musical Director Martin Yates on keyboards and a team of talented musicians.  We were also serenaded by ‘The Dukeries Ukeries Ukulele Group’ playing Christmas tunes in the foyer.

All in all, a wonderful show with many comedy highlights allowing all the principles to shine.  Well done to Dawn Denman and her team of creatives and everyone on stage or behind the scenes.   

© NODA CIO.  All rights reserved 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.