Snow White and the Magnificent Seven

There was a very lively atmosphere in the hall and it was well decorated to theme with the pantomime, with wanted posters of the cast and other wild-west artefacts dotted around. 

The sets were well designed by scenery designer Ken Smith who managed to create the Rocky Mountains on a small stage in Kimbolton.   Everything looked solid and well put together by the backstage crew.  There was not much in the way of special effects lighting or sound, created by David and Kate Maltby, but everything was nice and bright, with good colours and the sound was clear and the cast having radio mics meant that everyone was heard.

From the description on the programme “Snow White meets Blazing Saddles” this was clearly not going to be a conventional panto.   All the elements were there but set in the Wild West and Snow White was an all-American girl, played by Vicky Ivell, but looking every inch the Snow White we all know and love.  Vicky gave a good performance, managing well to blend the traditional with the unexpected.  Prince Charming was the sheriff, played by Martin Findlay, complete with matinee movie star glances at the audience and a pristine shiny shirt.  

Snow White’s wicked stepmother was sassy and evil and actress Kyna Simpson gave a very good performance creating a villainess that the audience loved to hate.  She interacted well and handled the odd bit of heckling from the audience with great ease.  Kyna also had the best songs and sang and danced confidently.  The spirit in the mirror was a very good effect and was inhabited by Chief Shining Mirror, a medicine man, performed with assurance by Lesley Bowring.  The Chief’s costume was impressive with a fabulous full-feather headdress and all the trimmings.

Richard Binks as One Eyed Slim (a grizzly bounty hunter) was very good and played his role with great gusto.  Richard looked the part with an impressive scar on his face, black outfit and toting a six-gun, which he was ready to use.  Richard brought the fun out in the character and was a lovable bad guy.   

Anne-Marie King as the hapless Silly Billy the Kid gave a strong performance.  Anne-Marie is billed as being one of the most experienced members of Melodramatics and it showed.  Anne-Marie was very audience aware and put lots of energy in to her character. 

Good performances also from Tornado the horse, Gareth Powell and Josh Haynes; never easy being a panto horse…there is so much scope for disaster so well done lads.  And well done too to Mark Galliano, as two-eyed Jerimiah…there were a couple of times Mark when I imagined you wanted the ground to swallow you up but you soldiered on and the audience loved it!

The Magnificent Seven, namely John, Kerry, Jo-Anne Jules, Norman, Dave and Sue, looked like they were having a ball, particularly in one scene where a lot of beans were consumed.

The chorus and dancers, Leah, Phoebe and Katie lifted the scenes and the dance routines were appropriate for the style of production.  All songs were sung with boundless energy helped greatly by the backing singers and a terrific band headed up by Sarah Rees on keyboard also musical director, David Montgomery-Law on guitar, Keith Mason on bass and Mary-Beth Sewell on drums.

One character vital to any panto worth its salt is the Dame…in this case Nannie Oakley played by Wolfie Hammerbacker.  Now I had my reservations about whether a born and bred Californian, which Wolfie is, could cope with the uniquely British role of panto dame but I needn’t have worried…Wolfie took on the role in spirit as well as body.  Everything was as it should be…outrageous costume, ridiculous wig, painted on face and, most importantly, the improvised rapport with the audience.  Well done Wolfie, you were funny without being rude, sexy but butch and warm, which is what involves the audience and includes them in your jokes and asides.

All in all Melodramatics fully entertained their audience.  There were occasional timing issues and perhaps a ‘magical’ moment could have been created for the kids but overall, good job.  You clearly all enjoyed the process as well as the performance and the ultimate test is whether the audience were entertained and they certainly were!!

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