Sleeping Beauty

This show was a NODA Pantomime written by Peter Denyer, with a very good script, concise and relatively short.  It contained plenty of lively music which the audience both young and old seemed to enjoy – joining in at most opportunities.  The story-line of Sleeping Beauty needs no introduction but the script, or the Society’s interpretation of it, introduced us to a wide range of characters and opportunities that the Director and cast fully exploited.

Alan Tompkins, as Nanny Fanny Granny, had the audience in stitches trying to repeat his name.  He made sure that the audience got it right and he made an excellent job of it.  John Ord, as Pickles, also gave an excellent comedic interpretation of the part in helping (or hindering!) Alan.  Brooke Hall, as the Princess Beauty, looked suitably pretty and demure, although we only saw her as the young lady approaching her 18th Birthday.  She had a good singing voice .

There was magic with the appearance of the four Fairies:- Amy Murphy, the Pink Fairy; Dawn Parrack, the Silver Fairy; Diane Girdlestone, the Gold Fairy, and Sharon Gauld, The Lilac Fairy.  All the Fairies had relevant coloured costumes and they complemented each other well.  Dawn, the Lilac Fairy, had a particularly good strong singing voice.

The nastiness in the production was well represented by Lisa Givens as Carabosse, the Black Fairy who cast the 100 year spell.  This was a very different role for Lisa who usually revels in the leading lady roles.  In this production she was suitably bombastic and frightening whilst making good use of her high quality singing voice.  Her presence dominated the stage, and she was accompanied by David Parrack, the Black Knight, all costumed in sober black.

Chorus singing was good, as was the limited amount of dancing.  I liked the dancing choreographed to “In the Hall of the Mountain King”.  The small orchestra led by Andrew Richardson performed well.  Costumes were provided by “In Disguise” and supplemented by Society members.  Overall it was a credit to Director Ann.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.