Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs

An evening at the Milton Rooms seeing this society for the first time was a very good way to end my season of panto watching.  With an enjoyable script by Alan P Frayn there were some very creditable performances from a cast of mixed experience and with good choreography and singing it all gelled very well.  It wasn’t a short show but the pace was good with very quick uptake of cues and scene changes.

Abigail Rennison played Snow White nicely and her partnership with Millie Kemp (Prince Ferdinand) was good to watch and listen to.  Katherine Woodford was the baddie, Queen Avarice, and I was surprised that she did not get more boos from the audience – maybe she looked too good – but she got her character across strongly.

The Dame is central to panto and here we had a good one in Rory Queen as Edna Bucket.  I liked his style, he had a good rapport with the audience and other performers and reacted very quickly to what was happening – a good listener as well!  Rebecca Heslop was really enjoyable as Chuckles and is a talented performer.  Yes, maybe she could have slowed her delivery a fraction but she showed great potential.

Another very strong portrayal came from Thomas Jennings as Justice Quill and we could hear every word he uttered – excellent.  He had good support from Kyle Cass as Scribbles, another young performer (the part was played by Jess Schofield at some other performances).  There was also steady back up from Claire Smith (Fairy Sparkle) and Jacqueline Routledge (Fairy Liquid), Mark Boler (Slurp) and Dale Bartleson as Merlin.

How could I not mention the Dwarfs, especially with such a talented crew as we had here so I’ll give them all a name check:  Maddison Farmer (Brainy), Alicia Allen (Smiley), Evie Bates (Grumbly), Tommy Davies (Tiny – but he wasn’t!), Aurehlia Woodhouse-Tindall (Dozy – also played by Evie-May Dale), Scarlett Rich-Spriggs (Snoozy – also played by Harriett White) and Ruby Jackson (Sniffle – also played by Jessica Jordan).  Those we saw put their all into their performances although maybe their mikes could have been put down a bit for them.  Mind you I wondered if they actually needed them they were so vocal!

There were some super Senior and Junior dancers from Kirkham Henry Performing Arts and I loved the way that they all expressed their enjoyment of what they were doing.

The costumes were excellent and the set and lighting very good.  I thought that the musical accompaniment from the MD on keyboards, plus bass and drums, was superb and I’ve never heard so much under-score in a panto.  Gosh the society is lucky!

This was a very enjoyable production and it’s a shame that the society doesn’t present more than one show a year.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.