Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is never going to be a ‘classic’ pantomime because it is a well known story from a fairy tale and when remembering the Walt Disney treatment in the film in ...can you believe it 1937... the public have a perception of how the story, words and music should be. But given the right modern script by a pantomime writer ‘par excellence’  Alan Frayn,  the experience of FMTC and the inventiveness of modern ideas  of young director Nicola Woodridge it cannot fail to delight. Was this pantomime up there with the prizewinning pantos from FMTC of the past few years? Probably not, but this Snow White was very close as it offered excellent post Christmas entertainment for all the family.

With simple but effective scenery from Scenery Hire Ltd Newport, very good lighting and effects, excellent sound reproduction, lovely costumes and a very good band, the stage was set ready for some excellent performances from a mostly young cast. The audience was ready to enjoy themselves and enthusiastically joined in the fun being presented on stage.

The stage was full of life and colour with many very good dance routines and company choruses, accompanied by an excellent band who were a little too loud on a few occasions.

The simplified story was opened by lovely motherly Fairy Fortune (oh such a beautiful voice) and with the arrival of evil Queen Avarice (a baddie who loved to be hated) the battle of good v evil began. Sweet and beautiful Snow White (another beautiful voice) beloved by everyone, looked stunning just as one imagines, in her costume with her glossy black hair, red lips and amazing smile. She was taken to the woods to be killed by the amusingly horrid ‘Slurp’ and with the Fairy Fortunes help she avoided certain death and met her seven adorable Dwarfs. These children really excelled with their comical antics, witty dialogue and enthusiasm. Their costumes and makeup and routines with shovels and picks were captivating.

The director had endeavoured to modernise much of this pantomime by introducing song and dance at every opportunity. The story suffered a little by these interruptions but was saved by the songs being short, smart and entertaining.

Inexperience showed in some principal performances with rushed lines and unclear diction and the comedy wasn’t as sharp and crisp as I would have wished. But the beautiful scenes delivered by the director and choreographer, created by clever placing and use of light, were memorable... the end of Act 1 was pure magic.

Snow White herself and the seven dwarfs stole the show and being ably supported by other principals, the story was brought to its happy conclusion.  The energy and enthusiasm of the full company shone through the whole show and was vividly represented in the finale numbers. This very youthful cast should be congratulated on a job very well done. The immediate production team of Nicola, Sarah, Joseph and producer Joanne Plenty, demonstrated their experience by presenting a show which was worthy of all the sold out perperformances. Well done to everyone concerned. Thank you for your welcome hospitality on a very foggy night.

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