Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

A familiar fairy tale, in the hands of the ever reliable writer Alan P Frayn, creates an amusing and entertaining pantomime.  The 1937 cartoon version from Disney is something of a distant memory now and it is good to see the old tale given a new lease of life.
 
This version opens with Fairy Fortune (Liz Lake) setting the scene, swiftly followed by the arrival of Queen Avarice (Jane Hamilton) who actively encourages the audience to hiss and boo, thus good and evil are immediately pitted against each other.  Sweet and lovely Snow White (Becca Irving), loved by all except the Wicked Queen, looks very much as one might anticipate, in a Disney-esque costume, smiley faced, shiny haired.  She is secreted off to the woods by the odious Slurp (Ian Dixon), on the Queen’s orders, to suffer a fate worse than death, well, death actually.  Only the intervention of Fairy Fortune saves her from her fate and facilitates a meeting with her seven adorable, if somewhat eccentric, dwarfs.  This group of ill assorted adults were suitably comic, delivering their witty dialogue enthusiastically.

This was very much an “in house” production.  The scenery was simple but effective, costumes bright and colourful.  The lighting was capable, clear sound, colourful costumes and a very competent one man band in the form of Justin Radford.  The performances of all concerned were enthusiastic and the audience (rather more children than usual at Ovingham) joined in with enthusiasm.  The small stage at the Reading Room was filled with with life and enthusiasm.

This version updated the story with a fair smattering of song and movement, most of the songs being familiar and performed in rather shortened, but entertaining,versions

The show was, to some extent, stolen by the local magistrate, fully suited, booted, gowned and bewigged, and his clerk.  Justice Quill was played by a deliciously gurning Peter Pescod and his clerk, Scribbles, was a suitably befuddled Bill Clegg.  The Dwarfs, however, took some beating!  All ably supported by the other principals, they managed to bring proceedings to an acceptable conclusion, with everybody, except Queen Avarice ( a fine performance from Jane Hamilton), living happily ever after.  The enthusiasm of the whole company shone through the whole production.  Well done to everybody concerned.

Councillors note:
My first visit to Ovingham - hopefully it wont be the last - the society mainly filled by local inhabitants produced a suitably eccentric pantomime with twists to a packed house - well done

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