Rupunzel

One of my first memories of theatre is attending Kays Theatre Group. I can, to this day, remember their production of ‘Cinderella’ in 1973 and pantomimes in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Fast forward over 50 years and their production of Rapunzel – a title never performed before in their 69-year history.

There was a warm welcome from members of the society working Front of House, some dressed in panto attire including Joint President Pat Milton. It was pleasing to meet other honoured guests comprising of long-standing members of Kays Theatre Group. Also in the audience was Paul Tate – the author of the pantomime. The cast, if determined to impress, did an excellent job.

The original story was written by the Brothers Grimm. This script contained many pantomime traditions as well as plenty of opportunity to show what Kays Theatre Group and Harlequin Stage School do well.

The short synopsis in the programme tells how Rapunzel was taken from the King and Queen as a baby and locked away in a tower. Some 18 years later and curtain up we join the villagers and King Hans Neezanbumpsadaisy as they prepare to celebrate Rapunzel’s 18th birthday in her absence.

A lively overture had the almost capacity audience clapping along before the traditional rhyming good fairy opened the show. Fairy Cornflower reassured us that all would end well and was well played throughout by Danielle Foster. We all knew this would mean the baddie entering stage left, for this pantomime played by the talented Joanna Hughes as Mother Gothel. Joanna was every bit the baddie and sang her songs including ‘I'll put a spell on you’ with energy and menace.

Pantomime wouldn’t be pantomime without the loveable character, this time called, Philbert Pumpenstrudel, played by Pete Coxhead. Pete had a great repour with the audience, responding to the occasional shout from the audience with confidence. Talking of which, thank you for the NODA shout out.

Rob Brown is a wonderful dame. The usual gags about widowhood and the demise of her husband and the search for another were plentiful, with the usual pick on an audience member. Rob had great costumes, I particularly liked the first one as a villager and when in a public house. Lines of course had to include ‘Get out of My Pub’ while resembling another all-time favour landlady Bet Lynch – very clever.

Our hero was Prince Stefan, the younger brother to the heir of the throne, was played to the full by Matt Sudworth. With suitable references to being the heir and spare and out of the limelight. Luckily, to the whole female ensemble he told us he was not married and especially not to someone called Meghan. Prince Stefan, of course apparently, rescued Rapunzel. The climbing the tower was a laugh out moment as he fooled nobody as he entered from stage right behind a cloth! 

Rapunzel herself was played naturally by Charlotte Hasnip imprisoned for so long and yet the exit was just behind a cloth! Charlotte acted the striking of Prince Stefan with a frying pan with great enthusiasm.

Sarah Gilhooly as Emmeline Schnitzel-Grunkholfahrt (potential spoiler alert here) and Cath Skyrme as Scrumdifferous. Two mysterious characters indeed.  Both were fab-u-lous.  Sarah’s song, ‘I am what I am’ towards the end of the evening was well worth the wait. A scene of communicating tongue twisters was superbly done and must have taken hours of rehearsal and learning. The squeaky shoe effect had to be seen to understand just how funny it was – well done Cath.

King Hans Neezabumpsadaisy was a great characterisation from Andy Skelton, so sad to have lost his wife all those years ago – whoops almost gave it way!

Finally but most certainly not least we have Erin as Cop’em, Annabel as Bob’em and Bella as Stop’em. Three juniors playing police officers initially working for Mother Gothel. Well done you three.

Many of the scenes ended with the famous ‘duff duff’s’ from a popular soap set in the east of London depicting a cliff hanger. The clues (another spoiler alert) all become apparent at the end of the show.

It was said in the script that act two would not be complete without the ghost scene. The expected ‘We’ll have to sing it again then won’t we’ was there. We never tire of this one!

The quality of the dancing from Harlequin Stage School was as always outstanding. Of special note must be the dance by the junior dancers to ‘The Lonely Goatherd’ and ‘The Laughing Policeman’.

The ensemble was strong and appeared in numerous routines throughout the show.

The set was effective. I liked the trees covering as wing flats with great use of colours. LED lighting throughout was good. Sound was equally well done as far as effects and radio mics were concerned. The end of act one and the ballet in the Kingdom of Ice scene was magical in appearance with falling snow. The finale of act two was full of energy from the entire cast.

This was a well-directed, polished show. Congratulations to Gail Moran and Cath Skyrme as directors, musical director Andrew Easton and chorus choreographer Becci Metcalfe.

As mentioned previously this was production number 69.  I for one look forward to the announcement of next years show title. Thank you for a wonderful evening.

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