Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Most probably my last viewing of a pantomime for this Season, but a good one to finish on!

This small, but perfectly formed, drama group from Dalgety Bay, has taken this NODA pantomime written by Stephen Duckham, and presented two hours of fun and laughter for all the family.

Taking over the part of Queen Malevolent a couple of weeks before the opening night, Meg Albury gave a very creditable performance, if anything, could possibly have been a bit nastier, but by the second act she was getting the audience reaction that the character deserved.  Jo McBrearty excelled as the bumbling, blustering, repetitive!, Lord Chamberlain – his performance only being surpassed by his magnificent cloak!  In the title role, Chloe Burt was ideally cast, and, together with a fine singing voice, quickly endeared herself to the audience. Snow White’s helpmate, Handy Andy (Emma Parsley), did a more than adequate job in keeping the story line going from one scene to the next.   Lucy Parish as principal boy, Prince Rupart, showed us a confident performance, with good singing skills in her duets. The cameo role of the Huntsman (Natasha Ferguson), although a minor principal character, was nevertheless an important link in the plot, and was confidently performed. Then we had Dalgety Bay’s answer to Michael McIntyre – Derek Bowman as Dame Doitall took no time at all to form a rapport with the audience – especially Nick in the front row! Derek’s performance as the panto dame, complete with some outrageous costumes, was always available to add life to the performance if any part was tending to drag – if only slightly! He was also never backward in coming forward when he dried: “I’ve forgotten my line – prompt please!” to the audience!   Last, but definitely not least in the principal line-up, Anne Dolbear as the (unseen) Spirit of the Mirror, was at the receiving end of sound gremlins which were, unfortunately, in evidence all too frequently the night I attended.  However, by the second act, Anne’s experienced projection came to the fore and, together with an occasional burst of microphone assistance, allowed everyone to hear all the lines (which they were expecting to hear in this panto!).  Unfortunately the same sound problems beset the seven dwarfs, Adam Knox, Emily Knox, Gaby Lonie, Logan Robertson, Hayley Burt, Alice Haddock and Emily Power, but, in spite of this, they still managed to get their lines over and endear themselves to the audience at the same time. The cast was completed by dance routines from Kasara (Colleen Deeham, Collette O’Neil and Margaret Watt), impeccably choreographed as ever.

Well done Dalgety Players – roll on next year!

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