Rapunzel

Rapunzel

Written by Ben Crocker

Performed by Broadclyst Theatre Group

On Saturday 8th February 2024 at Broadclyst Victory Hall

Directed by Clare Salter and Wendy Harrington

Musical Director and Vocal Coach – Rachael Grimshaw

Choreographers – Nicola Haizelden and Freya Brett

As the curtains opened a dimly lit stage was revealed with ethereal music playing. Eight figures dressed in black danced with illuminated spheres and a led lit plant was plotted centre stage. This showed the back story of how a precious plant was stolen from Gothel (a very bad witch) and the reason she kidnapped Rapunzel from the King and Queen of Evergreen as her revenge. The stage then filled with woodland creatures in costumes and masks who sit at the bottom of Rapunzel’s tower, waiting, as the birds sing.

Rudy O’Malley, played by Helen, our hero, gave a confident performance throughout, using clear diction, narrating the story along with an unusual but effective, cocky duo of Horse Head and Horse Tail.  The horse duo both had great stage presence and both sang and danced well in their impressive costumes of a gorgeous mane and ears on Freya and Lily with her fabulous tail and saddle.  A lovely duet between horse and owner of ‘My BFF’ showed what a team they made. 

Gothel played by Wendy gave a strong performance showing her real annoyance with her side-kick Waylon the Weasel. The actor playing Waylon, Andrea, was costumed in grey fur with a leather waistcoat and an ‘Oasis’ hat and was Liam Gallagher personified with his trademark swagger and the accent. The audience were in stitches every time Waylon appeared offering up different personas and accents depending on the storyline. With a good leg twitch as his ears are tickled too. Hilarious, laugh out loud funny from this performer.

And then Dame Hilda appears or in the programme Brunnhilde Blunderberg. A vision throughout the pantomime with fabulous costumes, which I will expand on later, and in gorgeous white platform shoes, Andy was a dame in every sense of the word. ‘Made you Look’ with the lady’s chorus was a fun number and the interaction with the audience was hilarious especially with ‘Bill’ on the front row.  A huge well done and now “Chill Out Hilda”. Max, Hilda’s grown-up son, was played by Wayne and this was his first time on stage. He gave a stout-hearted performance and, even when late coming on, he ad-libbed well as did the rest of the cast and made the audience scream with laughter. Rapunzel, played by Nicole, was a very huffy princess who gave a comical performance. I loved the duet with Rudy O’Malley at the beginning of Act Two of ‘Re-write the Stars’.  A young actor as Baby Rapunzel was so funny and sarcastic, as she storms out of the stroller and chucks her blanket while Hilda stresses out. 

Another funny duo were John Deere and Janey Deere, played by Dave and Gentian, the local publicans who seemed to annoy everyone else with their witty comments. Along with a solid performance from both the king and queen of Evergreen, performed by Keith and Jane.  Sailor Jim and Sally from the Alley was played by the same actor, Emily and held the audience attention at all times.  The youth ensemble made up of Sea Sirens, Scouts, Youth Chorus and Knights were the back bone of this production. Appearing in different guises and costumes, moving stage props and dancing their socks off in numbers such as ‘Green Green Grass’ and ‘Shake it off’.   Cameo roles from young actors such as Young Max and the Customs Officers Jobs and Worth all self- assured performances with great diction from all. A real highlight was that of Sir Basildon Braveheart, played by Jorgie, a very young actor with plenty of sass.

Creative choreography from Nicole Haizeldene and Freya Brett allowed each cast member, not just the trained dancers (who were excellent), but those with varying abilities to be involved in all the dance numbers. Not easy with large props such as strollers. The MD/Voice Coach, Racheal Grimshire worked hard with this cast on their diction and harmonies in musical numbers with an eclectic choice of songs. I especially loved the end of Act 1 and the five actors’ rendition of Finale B from Rent.

Carolyn Daniels and her team did a sterling job costuming a huge cast of adults and young actors with a good few changes involved too. The Dames outfits were exceptional, from the varying degree of pink wigs worn especially the stunning white one with the ship on top, dresses of every colour, silver pantaloons and fur capes to the steam punk outfits of the publicans, the animal’s onesies and masks to the furry weasel in a wrestler’s leotard!  I loved the knights and their hobby horses and the gulls too. It really was colourful with huge attention to detail ending with a gold and white finale for all.

The backdrops and scenery used were painted well, in particular, the village of Evergreen and its river, the painted flats and the large window with shutters of Rapunzel’s home in the tower, and a great pub cloth and counter. Colourful stage props such as the knitted or crochet large garden vegetables and the lifeboat with skirt carried by the actors within it. The scenes moved smoothly with good use of the curtains to allow changes.  The movement of cast throughout the audience does assist the director to bring the action into the auditorium but I felt, at times, a little unnecessary for the production.  However, the dame’s interaction with the audience was funny as she entered from the rear of the hall!Lighting and pyros were used to great effect on stage and above the audience. The dimmed lights and LEDs at the beginning and the red downlights and gobos used in the Ghost chaos scene along with oranges and yellow of the village scene and the inside of Rapunzel’s tower were impressive.It was obvious that every cast member was enjoying being part of such a colourful and funny production with its various twists and turns and the audience loved it. It is a joy to see all ages of the cast grow in confidence and be given their chance to shine. A huge well done to the director’s Clare Salter and Wendy Harrington and the cast and crew of Rapunzel. My special thanks to the front of house crew and Katie Jones for making my husband and I feel so very welcome.

Lyn Burgoyne South West Noda Rep for District 5 (Mid and East Devon).

 

 

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