The Little Mermaid

This is a very nice pantomime, based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale, telling the story of a lonely Prince W, nicely played by Leesa Agar, who spends most of his time looking out to sea, and the Mermaid Sirena played by Becky North who falls in love with him. After saving the prince when his ship sinks, Sirena makes a deal with the sea witch and goes on dry land to see the prince and win his love. Both act their parts very well and they have some nice moments together.

June Buxton has a great cast for this production and there are some very nice character parts. The choreography is by Mary Richardson and Leesa Agar and the dancing is very good with some of the girls from New Forest School of Dance adding to the numbers with colourful costumes, and the simple set works well.

Peter Anell doubles up playing the human King Hans and Neptune and he is great in both parts along with Harriet Cairnes playing the human Queen Helga and Maris the undersea school mistress, both have some nice moments between them.

The comedy duo is Adele Buxton as Timmy Topp and Tim Mabbett as Lou Bottom, getting the audience into the panto spirit. The dame is Granny G played by Nathan East as one of the mermaids and he plays the part very well.

The baddies are the undersea witch Crustacia, who wants to marry the prince herself and goes onto dry land to capture his heart, played by Angela Hunt getting the audience booing, and her sidekicks Dabberlock & Bladderwack who keep up the nastiness, by Wendy Cronan and young Charlie Lakin who is very good and a strong young performer.

There are also some very good smaller parts played by the young members of the company. The adult chorus also work well in the show. This was a very enjoyable pantomime. Well done to one and all.
 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.