The Snow Queen

Once again MKAOS pulled out all the steps to provide a Christmas pantomime that entertained a pretty full house. It was obvious from the start that the company had been well rehearsed and that the performance maintained a good pace throughout.

This was John Dowell's own adaptation of the story of The Snow Queen - it worked well and really held the audience's attention from curtain up.

All the principals played their roles with great confidence and good stage presence, beginning with the ice-cold Jack Frost (Simon Page) intent on evil, who was valiantly opposed by the very child-friendly Sun Queen (a debut appearance by Emma Belam) - they made a good foil for one another. Vicky Amies and Amy Hansford played the sisters Ingrid and Annie as nicely defined but different characters. Vicky particularly impressed with her singing prior to the interval as she became the Snow Queen while Amy used her comedy skills well. Her would-be suitor Stefan (Joshua Thompson) was suitably portrayed with dim-witted hopefulness. Juliet Ratnage (Coldsore) and Keith Lennox (Chillblain) made a good pair of unwilling (and later reformed) henchmen. The whole show was again driven with great skill and professionalism by John Dowell, this year as Nanny McVee.

As ever, the strong production team ensured that the whole show ran seamlessly - the settings, lighting, music, effects and costumes were all splendid.

This production, although, as I have already said, not the usual telling of the story of The Snow Queen, succeeded in bringing the magic of pantomime to Milton Keynes.. The ensemble work was nicely executed and I feel that it is a good move to encourage a new generation of performers in the shape of the tinies who made beautiful snowflakes. A great ambience enthralled the audience. The show really deserved its great ticket sales.  Well done to all involved in yet another successful show. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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