Review of SHADES Rapunzel 2024 by Sally Waghorn of the Haslemere Thespians
Last week I joined a small group of Haslemere Thespians, fresh from performing our own pantomime, to support our wonderful musical director Chris Snelling as he made his annual switch from Haslemere to Shamley to MD the SHADES production of Rapunzel – I’m extremely glad we did!
A beautifully spoken opening rhyme from our narrator Diane Littlewood let us know we were in for a fun filled evening. Written, directed, and produced by the multi-talented Sonia Chapman, who also played 2 characters, we were treated to plenty of scripted laughs and as many unscripted ones! With little consideration of age-appropriate casting, Fiona Gallacher (as Rapunzel) and JP Judson (as the “18” year old Prince Percival) were a delight. Both had great comic timing, especially when making the most of our long haired heroine calling down to her love from a tower no more than 3 feet tall!
Bryony Willmott was an initial surprise on her entrance as a teenage witch, but she is a talented young actress with a lovely singing voice. Maybe some black lipstick and eye liner could have made her a little more wicked looking, but I have to say she has the makings of an excellent evil stare. Martha Reed also gave a great cheeky performance as the witch’s pet rat.
James Reed and Caroline James were confident and entertaining as the King and Queen of Shamley Green and Sam James and Craig Mains were obviously enjoying themselves as John and Thomas, the useless palace guards. They certainly won the prize for the best ad lib of the night after they were fired by the King; “Fired? We might be bad, but we aren’t as bad as the stage crew in charge of the curtains”!
My personal favourite was Keith Miller as Dame Lily Silk. With a natural comic flair, he built an excellent rapport with the audience and was totally unphased by anything shouted at him.
The band, led by the super talented Chris Snelling, were as polished as ever and I loved the plot appropriate lyrics, particularly “Climbing up this hair” set to “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush.
It may not have the staging or size of other pantos but the cast embraced this, ran with it and the audience loved it. The SHADES production is a pantomime that doesn’t take itself seriously and is all the better for it. A thoroughly entertaining evening and we are already planning our return trip next year!!
Sally Waghorn
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