Rapunzel

On a cold, and incredibly wet "two panto day", we made our way to Silverdale through floods, howling rain and being stuck in a tractor parade, constantly bemoaning the fact that the seals didn't work on my car doors. Once there we were both of the opinion, "I hope it's blimming worth it"- or words to that effect.

Silverdale Village Players offering this year was Rapunzel, written and directed by Rachael Shone. It tells the story through (very funny and well executed) flashbacks of how Rapunzel was handed over by her parents (Betty Bouffant and Martin Mullet) as a baby to the Evil Witch, Itchiwig and her sidekick, Follicle. Betty and Martin run the "Hair We Go" Salon, and only hand over the child on condition (er - see what I did there) that she be handed back on her Eighteenth Birthday.

Rapunzel grows up in the tower with only cats as company, believing that the witch to be her real mother. The whole village gather to celebrate Rapunzel's Birthday, but as you can guess, the witch goes back on her word. With other characters such as Timmy Tay (Betty and Martin's nephew) Major Comb Over, Prince Quiff, Larry El and Princess Permia helping the story along, it all adds up to a very a 'mousse'ing tale, with a couple of hair-raising moments during the show, we had to keep hairgrip of ourselves. Enough of this - how was the show, and how were the performances?

Thing is, with this production, I could go through every role and write a couple of lines about each one, saying how good/bad/ indifferent each were, but everybody was really good in their respective roles. Peter Rushton as Martin Mullet brought a sense of the ridiculous with his outrageous accent, Evie Shone as Timmy Tay with the cringey one liners, Andrew Bodenham as the pompous Major Comb-Over and showed himself to be a skilled puppeteer, Kathy Talbot and Pete Barfoot, deliciously evil as Itchiwig and Follicle, With Prince Quiff, Larry Ell and Princess Permia (Willow Parker, Rosie Shone and Gil Chee) all adding to the mix.

Like I say, all played their parts really well - to stand out above these performances, you had to do exactly that - be outstanding (not a word I use often).

John Auckland as Betty Bouffant got the tone exactly right, toying with both performers and audience in equal measure. John's Dames always seem to hit the mark.

Emily Bodenham played the roles of Young Betty and Rapunzel. Even in the minor role of Young Betty, you could tell that Emily understood how to deliver a comic line, and how to work the audience with just a look and a sigh. But it was as Rapunzel she really hit it. Emily understood the brief as the princess in this production - every nuanced move was that of an early Disney Princess - exaggerated arm movements, coyish looks and excellent timing, without taking herself too seriously, as I've seen many a princess do. I'm not saying that what she did would work in every pantomime, but for this one, and the way it's written, she was perfect. Think Disney`s Snow White with the comic timing of Peter Kaye and you're almost there.

The Chorus, made up of the Knit and Natter Group, Customers, Head Lice and Rapunzel`s cats all added to the narrative, and played their roles well in this show.

Staging was generally cloths, props and hand props depicting various locations. The staging of the Tower and Rapunzel "letting down her hair" reveal was brilliant, and sidesplittingly funny. Lighting and sound were good and complimentary to the show.

Silverdale present their show in two ways - first couple of nights are "normal" seating, the last two are more a cabaret style with wine and food giving it a very relaxed and intimate tone.

What I will say is that at 2 Hours 40 mins (including the interval), this was quite a long Panto, but being honest, I didn't look at my watch once during the production, nor did I feel as though I'd been there that long - a testament to how good it was.

Director and writer Rachael Shone pulled out all the stops for this one, and it showed.

So, I guess the real question is, "Was it worth driving through, in that weather to see it?" The answer to that is.... I`d walk in that weather to see it.

Thank you, Silverdale Village Players, for both your hospitality and invitation.

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