Snow White

Well where I begin!

Firstly I was impressed by the lively band playing great show tunes and songs before the performance. It added to the ambiance of the occasion...well done.

As the curtains opened I thought, Oh ... a castle, but what’s that wooden box doing on stage? I realised very soon that it was giving a different level for the performers to play upon. This, as far as I could see, was the only advantage of a large wooden platform taking up a rather large amount of stage. If it looked strange in the castle, it looked even stranger when supposed to be the Dwarfs cottage and surroundings. I would suggest that where scenery is concerned less is often more...

I soon realised that this wasn’t a pantomime but a spoof tale of Snow White. Just because there is a lot of ‘Oh no it isn’t' and 'oh yes it is’, it doesn’t necessarily make it a Pantomime. I couldn’t decide who the show was aimed at... children or adults? In the end I think it was just a piece of entertainment in its own right. However for those who love the Monty Python and the Goodies style of humour, side splittingly funny (there were two sitting behind me), this show was for them.

My problem was really with the script, it didn’t flow well and the storyline was thin.

The lighting was clean and crisp, as was the sound, I could hear clearly.

The costumes were good, the queen looked magnificent in her red dress and crown, and Snow White looked so pretty and wore her outfits very well. The King looked very ‘kingly and the nursemaid... for I cannot call him ‘Dame' (and why Ploppy?) looked very good as well. I must have been asleep for I totally missed the arrival of Prince Harry, and misunderstood how he looked and acted. I had to have it explained to me during the interval.

The music was good, but here I had another problem. It is quite rare to find an entire (almost) musical show populated by original songs and whilst some of them were tuneful (particularly Remember me, Glorified and Don’t Play with me) instead of giving the action an uplift (which well known, bouncy tunes would do) the production and interest dipped. But the players in the band and the MD’s are to be congratulated for holding the whole show together, adding effects when necessary and playing sympathetically and well for the performers.

I find it difficult to say whether to the direction was well done or not. I found many of the modern additions an intrusion and not relevant. But I did think the local references enhanced the production. When I realised it wasn’t a true pantomime I could accept some of the actions but on the whole I felt the show lacked that sense of energy associated with the panto spirit.

The actual performances were a different matter...

Queen Nepharia was superb... she demonstrated loads of talent, good stage presence and command, and with excellent diction and a great singing voice this was good theatre...well done.

King Barry song 'If I ruled the world' was the musical highlight of the show, well done.

Snow White was sweet and innocent, but she really was a little toughie and made the part her own. I liked this performance very much.

Muddles tried very hard but had poor material and songs, she showed promise though and I would like to see her in another role.

Lovely Witch, good makeup and nice sense of fun and timing... well done.

Prince Harry... who? I just didn’t get this performance; I didn’t understand the humour or the personality.

Jack... had great potential... not afraid to speak up and with excellent diction she had command of the stage... well done.

Dame Ploppy looked and sounded good, but certainly wasn’t a traditional dame. The major interaction should be with the audience, I would like to see him try a ’real Dame’.

Huntsman... did no-one think your continual ‘I am the huntsman’ might become irritating? Pity, for otherwise you performed well.

Every other principal performer portrayed their part well and seemed to be having fun hamming up their roles.

The dwarfs were delightful. Confident and assured, they all performed extremely well.

This was a ‘Snow White’ too far for me....

Your previous play was so good and so full of black comedy; I know your club does comedy very well... Let’s just blame it on the script or rather let’s just say it was me, having an ‘off night'.

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