The Magical Tale of Snow White

On a cold chilly rainy night, one thinks to oneself do I really want to go out to another pantomime, but when it’s a Whitstable Playhouse panto the answer is YES I DO!!..It’s always a pleasure to visit The Playhouse and the Lindley Players.

Firstly, we have Amanda Gerrard as Director, you had a vision, and I liked it. A very uncluttered stage!! Perfect. That stage looked huge, and I know it isn’t, just six tree flats a toadstool and a great video wall designed by set designer Caroline Tremelling. It made this panto roll along nicely, no time wasted changing sets and black outs while set changes are being carried out. When you add sound, Damien Kelly, lighting Roger Davis and delightful costumes by a smart costume team, all in the capable hands of Stage Manager/DSM  Laura Hanson-Abbott. It gave this ‘Snow White’ a very professional touch indeed.

Amanda you should be proud of your cast they did you proud. These being a young Oliver Conway as Hugh Hunperdink. Oliver took over the stage and worked his audience, a talent in the making. Snow White Annabelle Fennell and Prince Harry Scarlett Thomas were matched well as the love interest, Dame Daisy Maisy Nigel Medhurst a very adequate Dame indeed, a nice shining part of the Mirror portrayal by Zoe Beadle and Wayne Browning towered above all as Diabolos Stubble. My star of the show was Wendy Otway as Queen Griselda this woman stole the stage every time she was on, her chackle and acting ability was outstanding. Looking more like actress Francis Barber than Francis Barber - Wendy, you played a corker!!!            

Of course, we can’t have little people now, so we had a set of Miners…portraying young people and they all had their own characters, well done to Mike Hanks Rivett,Tilly Hunt, Ava Keill, Anais Stein, Lucy Conlan, Megan Hill and Gill Lennard as the Miners. We must not forget the cast that back up these performances The Ensemble - without them we would not have a pantomime. These being Andrew Linford and Dave Turner as the palace Guards, Chorus Ladies Rachel Bowell, Louise Groarke, Amber Mills, Gabriela Ocuneff, Lorna Stockley and Colette Thorns. 

Thank you, Lindley Players, for inviting me I enjoyed my evening with you.

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