Sleeping Beauty

The prologue of Mixed Blessings was well delivered by Good Fairy Lilac and Wicked Witch Hazel, both of whom are experienced and well-loved performers in the company. Witch Hazel took the role at a weeks notice when the original cast member fell ill. It has to be noted that she played a phenomenal role, and no one would ever have known it had not been rehearsed for months. Well done! The opening, scenically dressed was the upbeat ‘Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer’ involving loads of lively movement, with a great piano and drum combo accompanying, culminating in the whole village coming together for a photo selfie by Fairy Lilac. Fun idea! Muddles never fell short in getting the audience involved in his call to stage and was a strong character throughout. Nurse Hettie’s introduction with a vivacious rendition of ‘I Enjoy Being a Girl’ from the old musical Flower Drum Song took me down memory lane. A strong, funny character, she took charge in the care of the new flatulent baby princess, which sent ripples of giggles through the huge audience of Scouts, Brownies, Boys Brigade, as well as some of the adults too. Fetch and Carry delivered a very good ‘Post Haste’ and were well cast in their roles, never missing a cue as a dynamic duo. The Rainbow Fairies were exceptionally well in tune with Fairy Lilac for ‘You Can Do Magic’ and the cuteness of the White Fairy Troupe was adorable. The bairns always have the ‘Awe!’ factor. Our introduction to a 12-year-old Rose was perfect and the young lady sung a heartwarming ‘Born With A Smile on Her Face’. From one perfect Princess to a chaotic classroom with a superb bunch of ‘Revolting Children’, was a real showstopper. The lesson shenanigans, with Muddles being the brunt of the nonsense, was well played out by Hettie, Muddles and chorus, ending in a Revolting reprise. Fabulous! The charismatic Prince Alexis had the vocal ability to match his personality. 

His ‘Follow That Dream’ was excellent. The plethora of colourful celebration songs, to make time fly, concluded an exciting and ultimately dramatic first half of the show. The Act 2 opening highlight, ‘A Million Dreams’ was beautifully sung by Rose. The excellent casting of Alexis and Rose made for a superbly comfortable couple on stage whose voices blended perfectly as they wowed the audience with ‘Somewhere Only We Know’. Gorgeous! The travelling from garden to tower, with echoing treads was well executed, right up to the dramatic revelation of disguised witch hazel and the final collapse of the Princess. As the palace partied on, oblivious to the plight of Rose, the ‘Beautiful Sunday’ number had all the courtiers up for a good old slosh. At the revelation of the sleeping Rose, the beautiful rendition of ‘Hushabye Mountain’ by Fairy Lilac, supported harmonically by Rainbow Fairies and Company was heartwarming. The mini white fairies wowed the audience once again with their song and dance, ‘Wake Up You Sleepy Head’, but Wicked Hazel was sitting in the side lines ready to create havoc with her Minions in a fabulously dramatic ‘Evil Like Me’, as she cooked up her next magic potion, only to be foiled again by Fairy Lilac. As the Princess and the palace dreamily slept the UV light dance proved energetic and highly entertaining. In happy Pantomime fashion Sleeping Beauty’s Prince comes to the rescue for the awakening to a rousing applause for their beautifully sung, harmonic duet, ‘Perfect’.  And so, to the perfect rousing finale.  A celebration dance through the audience was aptly ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’. Fetch and Carry did a fine job on The Border News to give everyone their well-earned time to glam up for the big finale and was down.  ‘Oh! What a Night’ was also aptly chosen to get the audience rapturously applauding and singing along. Dutifully, Santa put in an appearance for all the youngsters and led an upbeat ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’. Well Done everyone.     

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