Review of SHADES 2017 Pantomime


The SHADES Pantomine 2017  -   Sleeping Beauty

The SHADES Sleeping Beauty was a beauty of a pantomime which certainly left no one in the audience sleeping.   The cast did justice to Clare Truman's pacy and well crafted script, which told the traditional story of the wicked witch's curse on Princess Rose, played with plenty of teenage attitude by Sarah Mann Graefinghoff, to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die on her 16th birthday. The evil scheme was thwarted by Fairy Snow played with charm and assurance by Lucy Cumming.

There was plenty of humour in the pantomime supplied by the four main comic characters.  Knick and Knack, Knights of the Realm (Fiona Gallacher and Katie Haycraft) had great timing and worked well together.  The endearing character Muddles, secretly in love with Princess Rose, who soon had the audience on his side was ably played by J P Judson.   Nurse Nanny Nora, Carl Harmer, also gave us lots of laughs with his wonderful dame.

Sonia Chapman was an elegant but exasperating Prince Charming, obsessed with his iPad, who relied on his long suffering servant Jeeves played with confidence by Rebecca Varcoe.

There was plenty of evil to boo and hiss from the Wicked Witch, played with gusto by Diane Littlewood and her evil henchman Rif Raf played by Ron Bailey. 

Peter Palmer and Lizzie Mann made a fine King and Queen of Shamley Green and Clare Stevens as Cook and Tasha Haycraft as Mary gave good supporting performances.

The pantomime was full of fun and energy.  The songs and dances were well chosen and choreographed and were performed with confidence and impact by soloists and ensemble.  Colourful costumes (Marion Cozens) and the great playing on keyboard (Chris Snelling) and drums (Mark Stammers) were a treat.

Congratulations go to Clare Stevens and Chris Snelling as Director and Musical Director for another very entertaining pantomime.
 

Linda Williams

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