Rapunzel

After such a long enforced break from panto the Town Hall was buzzing with activity as adults and children took their seats for this early evening performance.  We were warmly welcomed and shown to our seats in the balcony from where we had a good uninterrupted view of the stage.  The curtains were drawn on the set with the exception of Rapunzel’s ivy clad tower which was in full sight down stage right, giving the audience a tantalising glimpse of things to come. 

Founder member John Byatt warmed up the audience in his usual way by performing magic tricks in the style of the late Tommy Cooper ensuring that by the time he left the hall we were all in good spirits and ready to sit back and enjoy the show.

A good introductory opening number ‘The Show Must Go On’ echoed the determination of societies everywhere to get back to performing and was accompanied by projected pictures of the society’s previous productions on a screen to the right of the proscenium.   

There were some very strong singing voices in this production and some excellent harmonies. The songs were well chosen, appealing to all ages.

Fenella Thomson was a lovely Fairy and Lucy Glover didn’t hold back as the evil Gothel giving a great over the top performance.  Her henchmen Quinn and Doyle were well played by Leila Daw and Jake Nash and Jess Dickinson really got the audience on side as joker Harold. Well done to her.  Paul Gloyne as Buboe made a good job of being what can only be described as a quite disgusting character. There were other good performances from Rob Fernall and Sarah Halliwell as King and Queen.

No panto should be without its dame and David Hirst certainly rose to the occasion as Dame Trott, displaying some outrageous costumes as befits the character. I’d never considered using sausages as a trimming! 

A lovely performance by Tilly Jones as Rapunzel and her musical numbers were nicely sung.

Choreography was excellent and the dancers had obviously worked very hard to perfect their routines.

Sound was good, we could hear every word. The lighting plot, devised by Simon Bates and executed with the help of his assistants, produced some great effects with a quite spectacular finale.

Costumes, as I have come to expect from the society, were excellent. 

The set of traditional style scenery, complimented by the use of the screen at various points to enhance the plot, worked very well.

Another very enjoyable panto from Saffron Players.  Well done to all involved and thank you for inviting me.

 

 

 

 

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