Sleeping Beauty

The test of a successful pantomime can be judged by how many times the audience laughs out loud. Suffice it to say that this pantomime was one long stream of hilarity
from start to finish. Loving crafted by Martyn Pugh every person young or old in the packed audience left the building pack full of merriment and good cheer. Of course Martyn is to be congratulated on several fronts. For he wrote the script, directed the play, and as if that was not enough he beguiled us with his stunning appearance as that stalwart of the NHS Nurse Nelly. Martyn, much to my surprise, did not however write the theme tune.

Jane Cordingley as Fairy Liquid opened the proceedings with a confident performance that immediately recommended her to the audience. A particular facet of all the performances in this show was how assured the actors were. Never afraid to throw in an opportune adlib they were without exception totally at ease. It is rare to see such comprehensive assurance in a show of this kind. I will add that this sense of community, of everyone pulling together to make this show so memorable, was down to every member of the team, onstage, backstage, foh and wherever else. Nicholas Davies wrung every ounce of humour open to him as the befuddled king Harold. While his wife, Queen June, Linda Gregson, was magnificently tolerant of all the strange happenings going on around her. Grace Wainwright, Charlotte Etchells and Jannah Shand were well cast as the three flower fairies who with Jacob Hogg as Fairy Cosmos appeared at crucial times to comment on the action. The villain of the piece was Carrabosse. Bonnie Toward reveled in the role. Marvellously costumed and with excellent make up she threatened and upset everyone in fine form. As her two henchmen, Scamorza and Roquefort, Rachel Brown and Jessica Brown conjured up a couple of disinterested foils to their wicked mistress. Muddles, Lu Etchells, kept popping up and kept us amused with a bravura performance. Charlotte Waite as Prince Adam and Grace Gulley as Princess Aurora were well cast bringing a palpable touch of romance to the proceedings. And last but not least Nurse Nelly, wearing a fantastic array of outrageous costumes, stole the show. In the hands of Martyn Pugh this erstwhile dame charmed and entranced us: a performance of wit and assurance.

The house band under the musical direction of Matthew Thomas was outstanding. Positioned at the rear of the hall I actually thought that I was listening to a recorded sound track so clear and balanced was their sound. There are so many more individuals I could and should mention. The lighting and sound was spot on, the sets up to par and the costumes some of the best I have seen for a pantomime for some time. Well done to everyone. I really must give a special mention to Amber Gibson and Bernadette Pinder for yet again producing such an informative well put together programme.

This was a treat of a show. I enjoyed it immensely. What more can I say? Oh yes, just how much I loved the Teddy Bears’ picnic routine: we all did. Congratulations St. Cuthberts. I am already counting down the days until next year’s production of 'Hansel and Gretel'.

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