Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty has been a well loved fairytale for many, many years and it also translates well into a pantomime.  All the ingredients are there for a fun-filled evening and the members of Seaford Musical Theatre were well up for the fun and games, despite some cast members suffering from this winter’s cough and cold virus which is doing the rounds.  Lovely opportunities for characterisations abound which were made the most of and full marks to the audience as well for responding in the appropriate manner!

King Cactus and Queen Marigold, well played by Steve Llewellyn and Manda Tester were maybe not the best of parents being only too willing to hand their much longed for baby to Nurse Hattie Harpic, the Dame who was played by John Tester with appropriate sauciness!  Darcey Puttock West and Aimee Eaton as Princess Rose aged 12 and Princess Rose aged 16 were delightful and both used their lovely voices to good effect.  Then we have Joshua Henry as Muddles, getting in a muddle and doing a good job of using audience participation.  Sue James and Stephanie Verrall were also very good at muddling things up as Fetch and Carrie – lovely performances from both.  After all, they all came from the village of Muddleby-on-Marsh!

Monique Loosemore excelled in playing both Prince Alexis who fell in love with Princess Rose before the 100 years' sleep and Prince Alexander his great grandson who awoke the Princess with a kiss which also effected the awakening of the whole court.

Now we come to Good and Evil, who had of course opened the proceedings in style. Both lovely parts and very well played by Shar Turnbull as Good Fairy Lilac and Donna Bull as Bad Witch Hazel.  The Good Fairy was assisted by Red, Yellow, Green and Blue Fairies -  Mia Flemming, Maise Cotton, Kika Green and Joanna Salter started off as learners in their trade but due to their good work, were able to display a large green P instead of the L by the end of the Panto!

All the above were well supported by the villagers, courtiers etc and the two dancers, Jasmin Hughes and Nicole Crisp.  The Band, comprising Russell Ablewhite on keyboard, Tony Still on percussion and bass player Andy Harsant made a very good sound, never overpowering the singers.

So much important work is carried out backstage, unseen by the audience and well done to all involved in costume, set, stage management, props, sound, lighting, publicity, programme, front of house, chaperones – nothing would happen without these folk.

So to Director Sarah Eaton, Asst. Director Shar Turnbull, MD Russell Ablewhite, Vocal Director Panos Christoff and Choreographer Stuart Hall and all those above, thank you for once again for bringing the magic of pantomime to Seaford.

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