Red Riding Hood

We were given a warm welcome on arriving at the venue and I was pleased to have the opportunity to speak with the Writer and Director Jess Dickinson and Chairman and Assistant Director Keira Gibson, before making our way to our seats in the gallery.

The prologue, with words and pictures on screens either side of the proscenium, and read by Jon Scripps, was an excellent introduction to the world of pantomime which we were about to enter.  It was also a quite magical way of capturing the attention of the younger members of the audience prior to curtain up.  Good use was also made of the screens during scene changes, keeping the story flowing.

The curtain rose on a beautifully painted scene of Saffron Walden market with familiar looking buildings, including the 18th Century Town Hall, in which we were all sitting.  A lively opening number got the proceedings off to a good start.

There were some lovely performances in this production starting with Lucy Glover as Red Riding Hood and her twin sister Blue Riding Hood played by Marnie Dunlop. Paul Gloyne as Jack was the link with the audience and I think he did a good job.  This is not an easy role, especially when you must get the audience to call out every time you come on stage – In this case “Hello Jack, how’s your back”.  This early evening audience needed a bit of warming up and a spontaneous reaction was not always forthcoming. I think we got there in the end though.

Dave Smithet looked as though he was enjoying playing Dame Gooey Bun. Her cake shop was most impressive. Sparkles the unicorn was well played by Freya Bryant and a suitably scary performance by Sarah Halliwell as Wanda the Witch.  Adam Todd seemed quite laid back as Wolf, a bit too much so at times as he did trip over his lines on a couple of occasions.  Being pantomime though, he managed to get away with it.  Granny was played by Rob Fennell doubling as Quiz Master Humpty Dumpty. I like a quiz and to have one in a pantomime was innovative and fun. A lovely solo by Georgia Murphy as the Vampire Vocalist and well done to Evie Nash as Prince Arthur. 

Samuel Clarke is to be congratulated on his performance as Shadow the Cat.  This young man may not have had any lines to learn but he really immersed himself into the role, staying in character throughout. Very well done.  

There were so many lovely characters in this pantomime, including the enchanting woodland creatures.   Wolf Jnr., Itch, Scratch, Titch and Cub, played by Emily, Daisy, Charley, Izabella and Jess while Lacie, Chloe, Rowa and Thea were Squirrel, Hedgehog, Rabbit and Mouse.  Very well done to all of them.

Choreography was good and not too complicated, so very well done to Lauren Young and Georgia Murphy. Costumes, as I have come to expect from this society, had been well thought out, as had the lovely scenery. There were also some great lighting effects.

Jess Dickinson can be justifiably proud as writer and director of this lovely pantomime

Thank you for inviting me and for your hospitality, including the interval ice-creams. We had a very enjoyable evening.

 

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