The Sword in the Stone

The Sword in the Stone is a new Pantomime to me, although checking on Google there are over 8 million results. However, this is a fairly recently written local version by Emily and Carrie and is an entertaining romp around the tale of Arthur, Merlin and the Sword in the Stone. This show had all the elements of a good pantomime, a Leading Lady, the Principal Boy, The Pantomime Dame, the Silly Boy, the ‘Good Fairy’, The Wicked Baddie and all manner of characters bringing the show to life with both song and dance. I would have liked a list of scenes and songs in the programme though, it helps with writing a review, I did manage to make a note of virtually all of them, Tim later kindly furnished me with a full list.

After meeting the Lady of the Lake, Megan, who told me she doesn’t like talking in rhyme, although it didn’t show, we were into the first company number, a colourful, entertaining and a well-choreographed ‘Good Morning Baltimore’. Introducing us to Abbie Cadabara - Jim Coote, Merlin – Ben Penfold and Arthur – Izzy Lanchester was a well sung Dolly Parton Number ‘9-5’, the three principal characters of the show. Ben was a natural as Merlin, having a really good stage presence and interacting with the audience as well as with both Abbie Cadabara and Arthur. He gave us much fun and entertainment as did Jim, very much a big personality on stage, again reacting to the audience, was it Steve (or Stewart) he spent the show flirting with, he was good with the children in ‘Hands, Knees and Toes’. I did feel that the personality of Izzy was up against big competition here. She was able to be her self more in her duet of ‘Love is Easy’ sung with Guinevere, a nice performance by young Maddie Cole, these two sang nicely together and both of them gave good performances throughout the show. There were some good songs here, ‘Magic’ and ‘Fight’ respectively good vocals for Merlin and Arthur and together with Abbie Cadabra a nice ‘Putting on the Ritz’. Our Baddie was Morgana, played with panache by Amy Power who gave us a great song with ‘Spell on You’, great entrances and costumes giving us a distinct air of wickedness. Amy always inhabits her character and she and Megan were great foils for each other, dark and light.

There was a trio of Knights to support Arthur being his backing group The Pezzants, these being Percy, Gwaine and Lance, respectively Rowan Fox-Noble, Lee Clifton and Steve Jackson. The three of them gave great entertainment and came across very well, their representation of a boy band with Arthur was fun and much appreciated by the audience. Lee is always a good presence on stage, complimented by Steve and I much enjoyed the multi-talented Rowan’s dance sequence. Merlin had his own love interest and this was Mary Bush’s Catrina, Guinevere’s friend, who gave us a nice bubbly performance. There were also nice little performances from Freya Pontin as ANTagonist and Gracie Rose as DECstroyer with cameos from Steve Brooks as King Uther and Jenny Ives as Town Crier.

There was a nicely balanced Company who sang and danced with Company numbers such as ‘Roar’, ‘Golden’ as well as the opening number ‘Good Morning Baltimore’. The singing throughout the show was good and the choreography was drilled throughout. There was no problem with sound a and there was a good lighting plot and design. Costumes were good, well-fitting and colourful. I particularly liked the final picture of the sword in its stone with the pin spot and smoke.

Kevin should be well please with this production, alongside his production Team he had a good cast and entertaining show, well put together and well performed.    

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