Rapunzel

Bethel Crowd’s first pantomime since 2020 is Rapunzel with a new venue - the Peace Community Centre.

With Rapunzel’s tower Downstage Left and onto the floor in the audience. Steps coming from the stage to allow some action to take place on the floor. Back cloths of woods and palace and the cast pulled them on for the various scenes. Paper fans and pom poms hung from down on the stage - very effective. Minimal set and props were used which didn’t detract. Stage Manager Anthony Talbot, Stage Crew - Peter Schofield, Graham Talbot, Anthony Talbot, Helena Carter, Caitlin Owen and Stagedoor Productions. Props - Graham Talbot, Hazel Bumby, Helena Carter and Caitlin Owen.

Lighting was John Lyon and Peter Gower and Sound was Phil Macivor. There was trouble with feedback throughout the show which hopefully was sorted for the rest of the run. Wardrobe was Helena Carter and Caitlin Owen. The Dame’s costumes were amazing and a nod to the character. The young chorus looked sweet as the Silver Flower Fairies and Woodland Sprites. The purple colour theme running through worked well and the lights on the bottom season fairies worked well.  I just feel Mother Gothel was missing something - whether it was a head dress or makeup that needed to be added to complete the effect.  

Helena Carter takes on many roles as well as Director and Choreographer with assistant Choreographer Caitlin Owen and Katie Monks. Caitlin also is Director along with Helena. Assistant Directors are Peter Schofield and Jason Taylor. Helena and Caitlin both take on the lead roles of Rapunzel played by Helena complete with long blonde hair with added fairy lights to add to the magic. Caitlin takes on the role of Prince Michael who plays most of the time without sight as he has a spell on him. He kept getting forgotten and walking the wrong way which added to the comedy. It was also funny when one of the very young cast members could not pull his chair off dressed as a ghost and a crew member helped - I hope that was planned and if not, it was kept in.  Caitlin and Helena harmonised well togther.  

Palace Guards were Carolyn Woodley, Janette Hampson, Denise Anderson and Peter Scholfield.  Woodland Sprites were Jack Leonard, Joseph Melling, Clark Mitchell, Willow Rose Kaye, Adele Francis and Violet Mead.

Silver Flower Fairies were Thomas Coburn also dance captain, Jacob Kilburn, Niamh Allison, Jessie Jean Dillion and Olivia Safe.  The young chorus looked to be having a great time and smiled throughout, what a delight.

The other roles are King George played by Graham Talbot and Suzie Woodley as Mother Gothel. Nicola Walsh plays Raven and Lindsay Sheppard plays Cobweb The duo are now quite experienced working together as a double act. Just a thought, I did wonder if they should have been dressed as fairies that had gone to the dark side, given their names? They do see the light and see through their evil mistress and end up on the right side so all is well in the land. Zoey Tattersall as Aiden Certainly had good energy and worked the audience, great facial expressions.

Ben Stanier was Dolly - wow what fabulous costumes (though not sure I would eat anything she cooked)! The height of those heels and boy did Ben work it, coming up and down the stairs my heart was in my mouth. We had the usual chocolates thrown into the audience and getting wet with the water pistol but I think it’s the first time  I’ve seen tea bags thrown into the stalls. Picking on an audience member and using his name when he could – hilarious!

Last but not least were the Seasonal Fairies led by Mairead Coburn as Summer also one of the dance captains, Lydia Thompson as Autumn another dance captain, Martha Fallows as Winter and Verity Coburn as Spring. They were a delight and worked well together in dialogue and dance, loved the cup song When I’m Gone - the girls were a great addition to the cast - well done!

With the cast as young as 6 years old it was lovely to see so much enthusiasm on stage. Thank you to Bethel Crowd for the invitation from my guest Angela and I.

 

Liz Hume-Dawson

District 5 Rep

 

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