The Sleeping Beauty

A superb evenings entertainment, the YMCA had all the right ingredients to make this pantomime one of their best.  Excellent scenery, especially the Forest of Thorns, good lighting, along with pyrotechnics, and lovely colourful costumes.

When the curtain went back the cast burst into life with good singing, lots of movement and smiling faces.  A good strong cast with no weak links, Princess Aurora (Robyn Broom) and Prince Orlando (Debs Cross) were well matched.    I really enjoyed the performance of the Wicked Fairy Carabosse (Sarah Teag King ) and her evil cat Spindleshanks (Karen Parkin) they had vitality and enthusiasm in abundance.  The Good Fariry (Amanda Gatehouse) was delightfully charming.  Comedy came in the form of Billy Butler and Princess Aurora's mother Queen Dottie, (Andy Macdonald) both gave creditable portrayals.  Unfortunately  the King was taken to hospital the previous evening and Roy Byrom stepped in with no rehearsal and performed without a problem.  The Palace Kitchen scene was well received by the audience with lots of mess and laughter.

There were a few gremlins in the sound system, and the quartet in the pit were a little loud during the first act, but the problems were sorted out for the second act.

Pantomimes are meant to be fun, full of laughter and merriment, and this production did not fail.  Carry on the good work

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