Rumplestiltskin

This show had lots of “firsts” for me.  Among other things it was my first visit to the NODA award winning society Melodramatics at Buckden Millennium Hall and my first experience of a summer pantomime, and on a Sunday at 11 am!  I was present representing Melodramatics’ own NODA Rep Richard Fitt. A lovely warm and friendly welcome from Melodramatics’ Chairman, Treasurer and front of house team was much appreciated. The hall is an impressive venue with a ceiling swathed in white fabric and soft coloured lighting on the walls, the space felt warm and welcoming.

Melodramatics perform pantomimes written in house.  This year it was Rumplestiltskin written by Huw Nadin & Rowan Alfred.  The script was funny throughout, with just that right amount of humor for both the children and adults. The secret of a good panto - apart from a funny script - has to be pace, energy and attack and this show had that in spades.

The Band were first-class though overly loud at times which drowned out several of the solo singers. The choice of music was great though with some familiar tunes and, I understand, some original music too.  Vocally the cast were exceptional. Choreography was basic but worked well on the small stage. Lighting by Matt Oram was very good indeed with some great effects when Millie was spinning the gold.  Personally, I am not a fan of the audience being blinded by spinning lights I find it distracts me from the action. I know the script probably called for that to happen a couple of times and thankfully other times were kept to a minimum. There was some great follow-spot work too which I know is not easy.  Scenery was well painted with a woodland one side and house/mill with moving waterwheel the other. Other areas were imagined. The Principals costumes were good and congratulations to whoever did the make-up for the Royal family.

All principal characters were excellent. Superb performance by Emma Driscoll as the Wiz-ard Big Hat Logan who quickly built a great rapport with the audience.  An extremely confident performance came from Emmeline Lyster as Shona the dame and Emma Verney-Davies made a lovely Millie with the added bonus of a beautiful voice.  Tom Kirkbride and Peta Riley as King Alexander and Queen Ethel were a very good pairing and thankfully what happened in the royal chamber stayed in the royal chamber but we got the gist! I much enjoyed Tom Monkhouse’s performance as Prince Cecil and lost it completely with the turkey baster line. Nice characterisations too from Anne Marie King as Ivor and Kathryn Duncan as the morose Chopper.  The Narrator vocalised and played by the talented Huw Nadin linked the story, characters and scenes until he revealed his true character as (spoiler alert!) Rumplestiltskin. 

The nine-strong Ensemble were outstanding. You will go a long way to find one that is more energetic and committed. All were excellent singers and most of them had minor speaking parts.  Even with an outdoor temperature of twenty-four degrees Centigrade the energy did not flag for a second. 

Anyone can do panto but not everyone can do it well. Fortunately Director and Musical Director Rowan Alfred, his talented co-writer Huw Nadin and cast knew what they were at and gave us a fast paced, energetic two hour show. It was great fun with an excellent script delivered well. Melodramatics certainly deserve their award-winning reputation.

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