Sleeping Beauty

Thank you to the Front of House Team for their warm welcome. I have seldom been made to feel more at home and been so well looked after and as this was my very first visit to this society they made it a very special event. I must commend Laine Watson for her excellent self penned script which retained all of the required Pantomime elements whilst, at the same time,  giving the story a fresh new twist. The set design was very simple and exceedingly versatile with bright colours and detail, complemented by the lighting of Moris Mackenzie. All of the scene changes were quickly achieved and well covered by Stage Manager Derek Watson and Hannah Miller, and the music was well chosen with old and new musical numbers throughout the show being varied and entertaining. Costumes by Laine assisted by members of the cast were well considered with nice bright colour choices.  The sixteen strong cast were excellent giving of their all in their effort to make this a memorable pantomime. Andy Bates and Cat Booker as King Edward and Queen Shirley were hilarious, she with her commanding presence and him a little bit down trodden but showing a great sense of fun. Becky Waine was beautiful in the Title role and displayed a lovely singing voice. The Pantomime Dame ‘type’ part, Madam Multibuy, was played exceedingly well and superbly costumed by Charlie McCulloch. She caused much merriment with the audience with her great walk and delivery of her very amusing lines. The Storyteller (Craig Bunce), Prince Eggbert (Stephen Foster) and James (Julian Tiley) also gave very convincing performances and Kathryn Felton was superb as Maleficent the inevitable and very important wicked witch who strode about the stage as if she owned it. No pantomime is complete without a good fairy (Anna Bird) but this one had two assistants, Fairy Nuff (Dennis Manning) and Fairy Liquid (Darren Worsfold), the comedy Duo. who both have great timing and work very well together, with more than a few cheeky borderline ad libs. Their baking scene was in a class of its own.  It had obviously been incredibly well rehearsed and every member of the audience, regardless of age, loved every moment of it.  They were certainly the stars of this production which was great fun from start to finish.  Well done everyone.

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