Sleeping Beauty

With their home-grown pantos – written specifically for the group by Steve Boyce – this company has a distinct approach to being inclusive, having fun and giving everyone the opportunity to shine.  The story didn’t follow the traditional fairytale plot as in this production Sleeping Beauty was a very strong willed Principal Girl, who refuses to fall for the smarmy charms of (fake) Prince Draco and is awoken from her sleep by true-loves kiss in the form of a slobbering dog – her pet Duke.  Sleeping Beauty goes on to fight the dragon, win the day and accepts the potential of a life with Draco, but only once he denounces his mother, the evil Maleficent.

The show opens with the christening of Princess Aurora where we meet Young Queen Betty (Millie Baker) and Young King Randolf (Seamus McEnroe) setting the scene and ensuring we understand that the evil fairy Maleficent is to be avoided at all costs.  The five excitable young fairies (played by Anni Bowmer, Lauren Thompson, Jess Darley, Caitlyn O’Sullivan and Bronwen Mitchell) are directed by Fairy Hyacinth.  Hyacinth is in no way your usual soppy panto fairy.  Played by Lynn Green, she narrates the tale and is an integral part of the action – including great interaction with the audience “Hiya Cinth!” 

Hyacinth then takes us forward in time by eighteen years where we meet our confident Princess Aurora (Leah Standing) and her hilarious mum, Queen Betty – the Panto Dame (Steve Boyce) with the best wardrobe I have ever seen in a panto (either professional or amateur).  The stunning costumes, wigs and hats are wonderfully worn by Boyce who commands attention and had the audience in fits with his truly wicked treatment of some latecomers.

Comedy was provided by the loveable Chester the Jester, played by James Mitchell, who told numerous jokes – straight from Christmas Crackers – but with great delivery.  Beck (Amelia Pollard) and Call (Edith Burton) also added to the humour, whilst delivering some difficult narrative which they handled excellently.  Maleficent (Louse Barker) was utterly horrid and her son Draco (Liam Tupling) was pathetic mummy’s boy.  Liam is a confident performer who also supported in several of the organisational elements of the evening.  Duke (the royal puppy) was well played by Oliver Langton and there was a great cameo appearance by Barbara Dawes as Dowager Queen Hilda Patricia. 

Writing an original script allowed Boyce to add a scene in the palace dungeons giving a vehicle for Steve Brewis as Gordon the Warden, Dave Burton as Connor the Convict and Tony Haley as Percy the Prisoner.  The guys did great and had the bonus of some super props – those sandwiches were very tempting!  The Principal Cast were also supported by Caitlyn O’Sullivan (Rosemary the Gardener), Lacey Brook (Sheena the Cleaner), Bronwen Mitchell (Wendy the Waitress) and Hamish Duffy (Rhett the Butler).  Some of the featured cast members also worked as part of the Chorus along with Lottie Barker, Emily Brewis, Jenson Burnett.  When Aurora’s toys come alive there were some super cameos from Lynn Tupling and Steve Brewis as Barbie and Ken, Katie Lloyd Neilson and Tony Haley as Mummy and Daddy bear, with a whole array of dolls, clowns and toy soldiers.   The scene was bright, cheerful and no doubt appealed to both the children and adults in the audience.

There were further stunning costumes in the form of the gargoyle suit – excellently worn by Katie Lloyd-Neilson in a nice twist to the usual ‘lonely castle corridor’ gimmick.  Set, props, light and sound enhanced the production as did the costumes and the technical team, stage management and curtain operation all worked cohesively.  Congratulations to the Performers, Production Team, Backstage Crew, Front of House Team and the Committee on a fun production which brought theatre into the heart of the community and gave everyone lots to smile about.  

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