I applaud both the company and the joint directors Nicki Payne and Sophie Shickell on producing this sparkling performance.I have a really old readers digest collection of old fairy tales my mother had and passed to me that I now kept for my daughter. I must say this talented company have a special spirit whether it be front of house, backstage or in performance and the audience enjoyed the show hugely, as did I. Keyboard players Emily Riley and Jane Biggins stepped forward and rescued the day, alongside Richard van't Riet on percussion. Despite this huge blow and in true showbiz style the show went on and succeeded brilliantly. A very touching tribute was paid to him at the end of the show and it was obvious how much he had meant to the company. On a sad note, the much loved and highly experienced musical director Leighton Davies passed away rather suddenly earlier in the show week. In fairness, on the night I attended there were far fewer small children than usual in the fullish audience. The audience participants song suffered from a lack of children wanting to be called to the stage. I particularly liked the Bear's cottage, where Goldilocks had eaten and slept. Set design was excellent and there many scenes with scene changes well managed. This was a high quality production with many experienced principals - and it showed - backed by a young and enthusiastic chorus with some well rehearsed dancing under Heather Chaundry and Sophie Shickell, the two choreographers. Jay Garland, Nicki Payne and Sophie Shickell in charge should also take a bow. Make up too was of a high standard with a large variety of different characters, all of whom were well presented. Wardrobe ladies Anne Lyth, Jeannie Metcalf and Audrey Wilson can be very pleased with their endeavours. The costumes, presumably from the company's in-house store, were exceedingly good, colourful (another necessity) and both fresh looking and well fitted (not always the case in amateur Panto). This scene is an essential apart of traditional Panto and will last forever, one hopes. This production used an ape (Claire Williams) which was finally scared off when confronted by the face of the dame. The traditional ever amusing "behind you" scene was skilfully enacted. They were played by Bill Pilcher ( Father Bear), Natalie Davies ( Mother Bear) and the charming Neave van't Riet ( Baby Bear). All three did extremely well and the porridge and bed scene in their home was well directed. The Three Bears, the animal act brought in to revive Sadie's Circus, were somewhat underused in this script. The scatterbrained Belinda, the bareback rider, was the good fairy, played with delicious ditsy charm and great comic timing by the talented Catherine van't Riet. The traditional comic duo were Joey Wizzbang (Julia Heathcote) and Jazzy Wizzbang (Louise Worby) as two believable and gloriously incompetent clowns. Angela Richardson as Goldilocks, her pretty daughter in the title role did well throughout as did Sharon Welland in a typical red suit playing her suitor, Ronnie the Ringmaster. Chris Dews as the Dame was suitable over the top with her hideous costumes and excelling in the pivotal role. His evil assistant Pedro was played by Felix Cuthbert. Goldilocks, her daughter aided by all the circus performers, try to prevent the evil Benjamin Black a rival circus owner from taking over Sadie's circus.īarry Harrison-Fudge was a highly believable and charismatic villain as Black wearing the trademark Michael Jackson white gloves when singing "I'm Bad". The central plot in this version revolves around a hard up circus owner Sadie Spangle, the dame role, played with panache by Chris Dews. This interesting Panto tale with a humorous script by the well known writer John Morley has delighted generations of children.
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