Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs

Frant again used a Frayn script which was full of fun and frolics, this particular title giving a great opportunity for local youngsters to take to the boards. Some very good characterisations in both action and voice were well maintained during the performance. Pippa Attwood was making her directing debut which I’m sure she found most rewarding. Music titles were a mix of traditional and upbeat, some of which were unknown to me, but included a Queen number ‘I Want to Break Free’ as in Freddie Mercury, with Merlin wheeling a Dyson! and also the opportunity for us, the audience, to join in along the way.  Plenty of hissing and booing for the splendid red and black clad Wicked Queen menacingly played by Maggi Baxter with her henchman Slurp (Richard Pierce) armed with  toilet brush, whilst Chuckles the Jester played by Alan Richardson  made us chant and laugh at his jokes. Simple but effective scenery with two static side flats, one of a forest the other the regal mirror using gauze for Merlin’s magical appearances.  Back cloths were particularly well painted, and the seven immaculate little beds cloth inside the dwarfs’ cottage has to be mentioned.  Props were excellent throughout from Alan Richardson as were the costumes with elegant sparkling Fairy Ann Darby and Naomi Berwick heading the wardrobe department.  Tony Champneys as Justice Quill partnered with Clive Moores as Scribe worked well together with a good technology theme most amusing.  Other character parts were well cast and the children as both dwarfs and forest creatures were delightful.  A panto Frant should be proud of.

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