Sleeping Beauty

If you’re looking for a fun filled family pantomime then look no further than Wales Community Theatre Players’ production of Sleeping Beauty, this really was a first-class production in every sense of the word.

I have to admit it was a little slow starting, but I think this could be because it was setting the scene and telling the story for everyone, however once it got going it was fun and laughs all the way.

In the leading role of Princess Aurora was Hollie Riley, a true princess in all aspects, beautiful, blonde and bewitchingly attractive and this was also the thoughts of Prince Sebastian played exceptionally by Alison Wade who later in the plot wakes her up with a kiss.

The story starts with The Lilac Fairy played with ease by Lynne Schofield who was joined by Fairy of Joy, Fairy of Peace and Fairy of Grace played by Eve Rowles, Abby Philips and Lucy Hayes respectively. All three fairies worked extremely well together and their singing of The Dreamgirls number was perfect with some great harmonies.

The fairies introduce the story but of course there must be an evil one who tries to scupper the plans, in comes Carabosse played wickedly by Ann Mann and she was perfect gaining the exact number of hisses and boos exact time she entered the stage.

Princess Aurora’s parents, Queen Wilhelmina and Kind William played with great gusto by Joseph Bairstow and Philip Burgess, this is another great pairing, Joseph having played the Dame in last year’s panto and he really is making this part his own.

The parents of Prince Sebastian, King Donald and Queen Melania were played by Martin Crowther and Samantha Walker, again another good pairing who were able to add not only to the whole story but also a great deal to the humour.

As with all royal families this one had a Lord Chamberlain played here by Lucas Brammar, this was the first time I had seen Lucas in a character role but boy was he good, he had the perfect voice for the royal commands.

There was a good amount of humour in this panto with some great additions from the Sergeant and his squaddies, Lock, Stock and Barrel played by James Moore, Lee Philips, Dan Schofield and Dave Froggatt respectively all of whom delivered their lines and antics like true professionals, it was also these who provided much of the harmonies which could be heard in the songs.

All the action, singing and dancing was enhanced by some good projections, especially just prior to the start of Act 2 when all the creepers and weeds were climbing around the castle, it was superb.

As with all good pantos here we had a silly billy type character, this time it was Muddles with Paul Burgess in the role and he was superb, I especially loved his comedy duet with Queen Wilhelmina, The Very Thought of You, it was hilarious and almost brought the house down. I also enjoyed the finale to Act 1, A Thousand Years which was also signed by Fairy Lilac, a lovely touch.

All the above combined with some excellent younger fairies, Fairy Sunbeam, Fairy Starlight and Fairy Dewdrop played by Sophie Williams, Scarlet Buxton and Bethany Wade respectively plus the younger Princess Aurora aged 5 with Maddison Marshall, 9 with Miley Shaw and as a teenager by Kathryn Jordan, together with a very funny Mooana the Cow played by George Crowther and Adam Stacey made for an extremely professional panto which was loved by everyone in the audience.

Ashley Booker must be very pleased with the overall production as must Claire Harriott with her dance moves and David Burgess for some super singing combining some great harmonies which are sometime left out of many pantos.

 

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