Sleeping Beauty

Great fun and great characters delighted the audience. The story of Sleeping Beauty is well known but is adapted here with its own twists and turns. The Princess Aurora is cursed at her christening by The Witch whose evil is combatted by the good fairies, while Nanny Dolly and Chester The Jester do their best to protect her when she turns 18 and extricate her and her parents from the dangerous schemes of the Witch and the Prime Minister. The pantomime opens with striking pyrotechnics (used several times to good effect) introducing the three good fairies. Greer Robertson as Fairy Stardust, the expert of the three, came across as a graceful, calm character with a lovely clear singing voice. Chloe Gibson as Fairy Flora and Sophie Fairgrieve as Fairy Clarabel, both novice fairies added their own brand of fun and magic. The duo of Derek Easton as Nanny Dolly and Stewart Borthwick as Chester The Jester egged the audience on from the start with their antics. Their experience was clear as they held the youngsters in thrall especially with the scenes with the balloons and in the kitchen and bedroom, getting everyone to join in. Nanny Dolly’s costumes were once again out of this world and indeed showed a fine pair of legs in wonderful tights  tottering in those high heels. As The Witch, Tracy Allan drew the audience’s ire from the first, deliciously devious and dressed accordingly. Her co conspirator, The Prime Minister, had an agenda of his own- to undermine the King and seize power and the Princess for himself. Jamie McArthur immersed himself in the role of baddie and had the audience booing at all his entrances and at his ‘support him or die’ mantra. Princess Aurora, innocently played by Jennifer Brisbane, was no match for this evil pair and even with the help of her boyfriend Prince Michael found herself in suitably maiden distress but held her own in a lovely solo. Claire Coyne presented as a courageous, determined Prince with a well delivered sword fight with the Prime Minister. John Coe gave a likeable but unsuspecting King Rollo while Dani Gibson portrayed a more practical and strong-minded Queen. All were well supported by a cast of villagers who sang and performed their routines with confidence and energy. All remained in character and vocals were clear and precise. The musicians gave great accompaniment. A varied and modern choice of well sung songs wheeled the action along and underpinned the story. Bright and apt costumes complemented the action and stood out against the scene-setting backcloths. The fluorescent scene was cleverly done and very successful. The company pulled out all the stops to make its seasonal pantomime a most enjoyable evening’s entertainment.

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