Sleeping Beauty

Report

Author: Roger D Buist

This pantomime has not been seen locally for many years, so it was good to see this unfamiliar festive show with its famous story line unfold on the stage. The problem with this show is the 100-year time scale and how to portray this fact in the story telling – because most people do not live for 100 years! The first half followed the story line well; with the second half “padding out” the time scale by involving the characters in a dream situation. However, all the elements were there – lots of young kids playing their hearts out; the obligatory cake baking scene; lots of Chorus numbers; daft comic dialogue; plus great costumes. The Principal Boy and Girl leads should really be the main roles, and playing them to perfection were Ellen Ryder, a delightful Princess Aurora, and Louise Middleton, a dashing Prince Orlando. But this show relies heavily on another three leads – Queen Dorothy, and making his debut in this role, was Thomas Richmond as an over-the-top panto dame, full of fun and an absolute natural in this comic role. Aided and abetted by Jack-of all-Trades, Billy (Ewan Phillip) whose comic timing was absolutely spot on and who had energetic energy in abundance! In a piece of inspired casting the role of the Wicked Fairy, Carabosse, was played by Raymond Wood, and, since he is a superb stage make-up artist, he showed his artistic talents by transforming himself into a fantastic, evil, Disney look-alike of the famous Bad Fairy. He was a sly, intense, and creepy character – and how he loved doing it! The other main characters were King Norbert (Shaun Kelly) attempting to control his mad-cap Queen and the Bad Fairy’s assistant in the shape of a shapely cat called Spindleshanks (Kelsie Boland) who, I have to admit made a great sexy cat! But there was another cat – the Good White Cat – Kitty (Molly Crombie) who was just purr-fect. Good work also came from the Good Fairy Peaceful (Jude Vandecasteele) and her three fairy helpers – Fairies Thoughtful (Jenni Main); Beautiful (Eilidh McLaren Hussain); Graceful (Terri Roberts).What a night it all was! It was all a mad romp which ensured that no one in the audience did fall asleep!