Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty is the age old tale of the princess cursed at birth by the evil witch and then pricks her finger on a needle on her eighteenth birthday and falls into a deep sleep to be finally awakened by a kiss from the handsome prince. This version has a modern slant. From one of the fairies wishing expertise in IT, to Prince Valiant (Jasmine Cartwright - fulfilling her ambition to play principal boy) and Princess Aurora (nicely played by Emily Marshall) communicating via their mobile phones, this was a pantomime that blended modern and fairy tale.

It was a show full of double acts - all excellent pairings. There was King Basil (Robin Pearson - in confident mode) and Queen Beryl (Adrienne Sharman - who has a great voice), there was the evil Zelda Blackadder (Matt Isham - looking and behaving awfully scary) and her work experience apprentice Spaldrick (Rachel Ward - not sure about the beard but a good performance) and there was Dame Dotty Dooright (Phil Bailey who was well on form) the Court Jester (John Pickering - in energetic and supremely confident mode).  In a sub plot Dame Dotty is mistaken for the MI5 agent sent to protect the princess from sharp objects whilst the agent himself is mistaken for a Court Jester - probably because he's disguised as one. They made an excellent duo, working extremely well together: the audience loved them and they had us laughing from the start.  Mention should also be made of Sarah Pearson the Storyteller who kept the action going and the story on track; Amy Smethhurst playing Victoria the princess’s companion and Chessie Sharman who acted as apprentice to Darren Seekings’ Feathers, the palace's pigeon trainer whose messenger pigeon "Lightning" would fly off and on stage from unknown directions with notes for the King and Queen.  Chessie is on my list on ‘one’s to watch’ - an up and coming young actress I’m sure.  On the debit side, some of the younger principals did have a tendency to gabble so many of their lines were lost, particularly the fairies’ blessings. The Dame’s costumes, wigs and sunglasses were amazing and whilst other costumes were extremely well suited to the principal role players some of the chorus were not so well attired.  One or two looked as if they were in their everyday clothes.  

That said, I must compliment MD Martin Avery and the chorus.  This was the best RADSOC chorus I have seen for a few years.  There were a good many songs which were all put over tunefully and with obvious enjoyment.  The choreography by June Hinchliffe (who also directed) was minimal but well suited to everyone's ability. The young ballet dancers from the Helene Jones School of Theatre Dance were very sweet adding the ‘aah’ factor once or twice. The reversible, set designed by Matt Isham, looked good and the growing branches trapping the prince in the magic wood very clever. 

This was a great show that had the audience hooked from the start and provided two hours of excellent entertainment.  Thanks you for inviting me.

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