Sleeping Beauty

Pantomimes are eponymous with British Theatre and, although traditionally take place around Christmas time, nowadays we see societies choosing February and often even Easter as their panto slot. There is no doubt that pantomime remains a popular entertainment choice and Bunbury Players played to full houses with this year’s offering Sleeping Beauty - number four on the UK’s top ten pantomime list.  

As always the Bunburys made good use of the limited space the Mildenhall Jubilee Centre stage offers them and the settings worked well. Nice colourful palace backing which (I think) turned round to give a nicely spooky setting for Zelda’s Zone.  The wood which closed in on Prince Valiant was more difficult to get round but it worked with the addition of some neat lighting.  Costumes were lovely and colourful with the Dame getting more changes than the weather complete with wigs which appeared to get wilder each change. All well thought out. Lighting was good although, as you know, I am not a fan of lights blinding the audience but that is by the way.  The sound effects were good and well cued.  However, although I appreciated the cleverness of the selections of music to underscore dialogue of scenes it was too loud and became intrusive particularly where actors lacked projection. 

Director Mandy Morrish provided a well cast and, in the main, well-paced production. Lots of nice attention to detail both in costume and properties.  Choreographers Chloe Gilbert and Alisha Darkins created interesting routines providing some well executed synchronised movement from the cast.  Musical Director Will Cahill had done a grand job with the musical numbers.  Great confident singing from the Ensemble and supporting players and great vocal work from the soloists.

There were some really first rate performances from the principals and supporting players with excellent pairings throughout.  King Basil and Queen Beryl (Karen Humphreys and Lucy Short) were suitably regal and came over as genuinely concerned parents of the Princess Aurora (Grace Mann) who had a nice empathy with our hero the thigh-slapping Prince Valiant, well played by Amy Cahill.   Matt Darkins was outstanding as Dame Dotty Dooright masquerading as undercover MI5 agent Double D 7. Matt had great rapport with the audience and also with Jo Ward splendid as the real undercover MI5 agent masquerading as Jester Minute the Court Jester. Great communication between these two.  Every panto has a baddie and they don’t get nastier than Zelda Blackadder played by Carrie Parsons and her work experience cohort Spaldrick played by Tracey Shaughnessy. Excellent characterisation and impressive performances from both actors.  A real scene stealer was Feathers, the Keeper of the Royal Pigeons, beautifully played by Katie Emmett, not forgetting of course the famous Lightning. A small role which made a great impact.  Good support from Jack Learoyd as the Princess’s companion Victor, Hazel Thompson as Storyteller, Guards Charlie Jones and Chris Humphreys, the six Fairies Ruby Kemp, Layla Hurst, Poppy-Lou Turner, Bryony Hewitt, Alex Parsons and Kayleighann Parish. All this and Daisy Slettevold, Liana Barnard and Eleanor Vaughan an excellent trio forming the Ensemble.  

This was a super show with lots of good teamwork throughout from this large cast.  One thing to be aware of however is projection. Your contribution to the show however large or small is wasted if the audience can’t hear you.   Congratulations to Director Mandy Morrish, the Creatives and all involved in Sleeping Beauty. It was a great evening’s entertainment and a fitting end to my NODA “panto season”

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