PUSS IN BOOTS

Overall quality of this production was excellent. All the characters Jamie Dimple (Kate Pingree Webber; King Crumble Gary Robinson, Princess Fiona Natalie Maynard, Rumbletum David Ball, Felix Luke Robinson) were well defined and diction of the main characters and singers was very good. Paul Bowman in the role of Dame Doris was, as always, the perfect pantomime dame. Paul never fails to entertain. I think he was born to be in pantomime. Dom Napier (Rory and Puss in Boots) stepped out of his usual roles but worked very hard portraying two characters.The script by Phillip Weeks as well interspersed with the music performed by four very competent musicians.

Costumes were good especially those for Dame Doris. How Paul coped with all his changes is still a mystery. The scenery designed by Ally Martin and built by Chairman Peter Pingree (not sure if he had any help) was excellent and the scene changes were smooth and efficient. Lighting and sound was good although I did have a slight problem with Wisteria the Witch (Elicia Farmer) when she was in her "nasty mode". It was somewhat an assault on the ears. This may have been due to a problem with the sound equipment.The prompt was redundant on the night I attended.

From the opening scene to the final one it was a real pantomime, both cast and audience thoroughly enjoying themselves, especially when showing support for Rory/Puss in Boots (Dom Napier) by shouting "they were his mates". Dame Doris was hilarious and the interaction between her and the main characters was well drawn. The performance of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" by the principals was an absolute riot of fun.

It was miserable weather loutside as it had been all week but I came out feeling happy and uplifted as I feel sure the rest of the audience did. Many thanks to Harlequin who are obviously a happy team

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