Sleeping Beauty

This years pantomime offering from Garstang Theatre Group was Sleeping Beauty - the beautiful princess placed under a spell by the wickedest fairy in the land (until the next wicked fairy comes along of course), Carabosse. With one prick of her finger the Princess would fall into a cursed sleep for quite some time (though no doubt Brexit wouldn't be sorted), unless she were to be awoken by true loves kiss. Will Queen Doreen, Fairy Nuff, Prince Frederick and Chester the Jester be able to break the spell and have us all out of the theatre by 9:30? Spoiler alert, they will.

Millie Roberts played the role of Princess Beauty with an endearing level of enthusiasm, engaging with the chorus well at every opportunity, though I did find the princess's choice of footwear intriguing - I know we're not in glass slipper territory, but character shoes may have been a better choice....

Chester is Princess Beauty's friend, who (apart from not being particularly bright) is head over heels in love with Beauty but can't tell her, was charmingly played by Julie Guiver Wells, throwing in the one liners here there and everywhere.

Derek Longstaff enjoyed himself as Queen Doreen, bouncing off all the other characters and along with Kirsty Willacy's Prince Frederick, managing to engage the audience throughout. This was Kirsty's first ever show/production and, judging by her performance, won't be her last.

You can't have a pantomime without the battle between good and evil - this comes in the form of Fairy Nuff and Carabosse, played by Kerrie Byatt and Roisin McCann. Kerrie settled into the role very quickly, leaving us all at ease that good would conquer evil in the end.

This was Roisin's first time playing the baddie, and you could tell she absolutely loved it, as did Marianne Chapman-Fox as her sidekick, Lurgy.

The chorus all did their bit in the show, singing and dancing with enthusiasm. Sometimes, with shows with a lot of movement in them, the singing can get lost - not so with this group.

Staging was generally cloths with props carried on and off to depict locations, with complementary lighting and sound. I did find one or two of the scene transitions a bit clunky at times, though space is at a premium at the venue. Sound throughout was really good.

Choreographer Rebecca Littlechild had worked hard with the cast, never really pushing them beyond their capabilities, but giving them plenty to do.

Musical Director Katie Horten Middleton obviously had fun with the group - I think it's been a record this year for the number of people doing Ghostbusters.

Directors Sarah Owens and Paul McCann must have been pleased with what the group produced - especially one of the shows playing to a full house - no mean feat these days.

Thank you Garstang, for your invite and hospitality.

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