Sleeping Beauty

This script by first time pantomime writer, and company stalwart, Timothy Roberts was a telling of the traditional tale with a few twists – a Prince who falls foul of the cursed spinning wheel then gets awakened by a kiss from a fairy dame and a Princess who saves the day by slaying the evil dragon! As well as the twists the script was packed with the usual groan inducing panto gags, local references and slapstick humour. From the opening company number “Twistin’ The Night Away” to the Act 1 finale “Tragedy” to the now traditional finale rendition of “Reach” the fast pace never faltered. Meaghan Peters played the feisty, modern-minded Princess Rose to perfection with good stage presence and a delightful voice shown to it’s best in her duet “It Must Be Love” with Fiona Goss’s thigh slapping principal boy squire Samson. Heather Adams Officer as Fairy Tulip did a sterling job in keeping her two fairy dame colleagues Crocus (Andrew Dart) and Hogweed (Garry Brindley) – I told you there were twists – in check. She was fighting a losing battle however with Hogweed when it came to her exploits to woo Murray Lawson’s handsome but dim Prince Maximillian. Their antics during their rendition of “It’s Not Unusual” had the full house audience in stitches. Elizabeth Levy was a truly scary wicked fairy Malice fully deserving of the boos and hisses elicited as was Joshua Horsfall as her side-kick Raven, who showed his versatility as lead dancer in the speciality dance “Monster”. Strong support was given by Bill Williamson (King Oak), Liz Forrest (Queen Rowan), Drew Mitchell (Forest Guardian) and Kirsty Lockhart and Tim Roberts as the Guards. The singing from the principals and chorus was excellent and the dancing from the company and speciality dancers was step perfect. The set was simple but effective with the scene changes carried out speedily. The costumes were colourful and added a touch of sparkle to every scene. Congratulations to Tim on his directorial debut and to everyone at the Ury Players for another fun-filled evening.

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