Rapunzel

With so many pantomimes around at this time of the year it's always interesting to be invited to review one which is less run-of-the-mill and since the advent of Disney's 'Tangled Rapunzel' seems to have found a deserved niche within the genre. The pantomime version of this fairy tale does manage to embrace all the requisite panto characters within the storyline. FCSSES also seems to have found a really receptive audience within the local community with a number of the shows being a sell-out. 

I liked the beginning of this version of Rapunzel with a storyteller setting the scene and enabling the story to develop clearly. The opening scene was a nicely set opportunity for the chorus.

Jasmine Barker made a sweet Rapunzel with Christy-Ann Wilson as her prince. They balanced each other well. This panto's baddie, the witch Gothel, was handled by Amy Su Armitage who had to combat not one but three good fairies portrayed by Tracey Barker, Jamie Smith and Shannon Nicholson. Thomas York as Nurse Hety Hairspray and John Baish as Willie the Jester made the most of the comedy in the show and quickly built a strong rapport with the audience - such an important part of panto. Their antics encouraged enthusiastic participation from their audience, both young and old.

I think the whole show had been exceedingly well rehearsed. The sets helped to enhance the telling of the story along with the lights and stage effects.Everything was underpinned by a good orchestra led by Karen Carr and an efficient stage crew who managed the many scene changes most effectively. Lots of bright costumes too.

For me the show was rather overlong and could have done with a few judicious cuts. However it was evident that a lot of hard work had gone into the production by everyone involved and most of all, judging by the excited chattering from the audience as they left the venue, they had been very well entertained and that's what it's all about! So well done!!

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