Snow White & the Seven Friends

Snow White & the Seven Little Friends

E.P.O.P.C.

18/1/25

 

Ellesmere Port Original Pantomime Company’s production is always a joy, especially the matinee.  The Civic Hall is full of proud Grandparents, Mums & Dads siblings, friends all waiting to cheer their local societies production of Snow White and the Seven Little Friends. E.P.O.P.C has been entertaining pantomime audiences since 1934, they are justifiably proud of their contribution to community theatre.

Fairy Spell (Mel Hughes) opens the evening welcoming us all and telling the story of Snow White, and her evil jealous stepmother. The story of Snow White (Amy Dainty) and her evil Stepmother Queen Jessop (Hayley Dale), is one of our oldest fairy tales. Queen Jessop despises Snow White as her Magic Mirror (Caireen Candin) tells her that she is the ‘fairest of the land’. Knowing of the imminent arrival of Prince Gareth (Lexi Jones) has to do whatever she feels necessary to win his love, she instructs her manservant Herman (Chris Pacitti) to hatch a plan to kill her stepdaughter. Pantomimes always need a mischievous ingredient, we meet the odd-job duo Nifty (Lucy Morris) & Shifty (Viv Henson) who were splendid, such stage presence the audience took to them immediately.

Making his debut as Dame Dolly (Ian Devereux-Roberts) over-the -top headdresses and extravagant costumes got us all giggling before he even opened his mouth. Exploding onto the stage is Muddles (Shannon Lancashire) what an entrance, such energy, totally comfortable the audience loved her immediately. Dame Dolly and Muddles were a joy to watch, their kitchen scene, always popular in a panto was hilarious, great partnership.

To escape the threat from her stepmother Snow White takes refuge in the woods, with her seven friends, Pop (Isabelle Potts), Grouch (Mya Cameron) Dozy (Winter Edwards) Soppy (Robyn Jones) Tishoo (Isla Sallsbury) Giggles (Savannah Gibbons) Nap (An Frausto) Who were all charming and so very talented, well done to you all. The wicked Queen Jessop finds Snow White and offers her an apple which she has poisoned, the deed is done. I was so impressed with Queen Jessop (Hayley Dale), her singing voice is beautiful, how she was able to make ‘I Put a Spell on You’ sound so evil is a real skill.

 This pantomime has a bespoke script written by Chris Jones which can be a challenge. My congratulations to debut Director Sheryl Dean, Musical Director Rob Stevens, Choreographer Emma Humphreys, assistant Amy Daintry. The stage team, Greg Roberts, Steve Dale, sound Liam Fox, lighting Derek Bosley and wardrobe Gail Roberts and Marj Cooper. The song list through the show were well chose, 'Perfect','Jackson 5 Medley,' 'Whustle a Happy Tune'. As we all know how important the chorus is to any pantomime, congratulations you smashed it. You did a great job with this production, all that time and effort you put in has definitely paid off, be ever so proud of what you achieved … great show.

A happy ending is compulsory in Pantomime land, of course, it was a happy ending for Snow White and her Prince Gareth and we clapped furiously at the amazing fairytale wedding. If you gauge the success of a production on the applause and cheers as it ends then you would be left in no doubt as to its success. It was obvious, from the first moment to the last that everyone on stage were having the time of their lives.

A little history for you, written by The Brothers Grimm the German brothers known for their various folk tales and stories, published 'Grimm's Fairy Tales' in 1812, which features the tale of Snow White as story number 53 who knew!

Thank you, E. P.O.P.C for an evening of fun and laughter, looking forward to the next production

 

Joanne Rymer

NODA

District

 

 

 [JR1]

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