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Puss in Boots
Belgrade Theatre
*****
The Belgrade Theatre’s Pantomime is
deservedly popular and a hoot from start to finish and played to packed
houses since the end of November with audiences ranging from two to 98
at least!
Writer and director Iain Lauchlan as Matilda
Pudding is a brilliant dame, with usual side-kick, literally, in Craig
Hollingsworth as son Simon Pudding improvising happily throughout.
Crusty Pudding, miller and husband to Matilda and
father to Simon has just died and there is trouble over the will. The
mill is claimed by the local ogre and his henchman and neighbourhood
Rachman, Victor Grabbit (Peter Watts) who plan to make the Puddings
homeless and AirBnB the mill for a thumping profit.
King Colin of Mysopia (David Gilbrook) has plans
for Matilda and Simon to stay put. Fairy Flutterby (Aimee Bevan – in the
craziest pair of silver shoes) gets involved with an ambitious plan to
make Simon a Duke to marry the King’s daughter Princess Sophia (Miriam
Grace Edwards). So, what can possibly go wrong?
Matilda and Simon have officially inherited a
lethargic cat called Chubbs, and Alopecia the donkey as well as the
mill. In Fairy Flutterby’s hands, Chubbs (Joanna Thorne) becomes
motivated to do the Fairy’s bidding and introduces Simon to the Princess
as the Duke of Carabas with some cunning sleight of paw, a pair of boots
and a fairly impressive hat.
Impressive, too, is the set, and the
shape-shifting ogre (Daniel Teague). I had to be told about the animals
but eventually worked out where they were. Maybe a spotlight might have
helped me?
I loved the hilarious action song ‘If I weren’t
in Pantomime’ which I remember from last year and was delighted to see
again…I even looked for it on YouTube! A lady in the front row was
literally helpless. I would look for rehearsals on YouTube too; I bet
there were some black eyes and bruises!
I also loved the scene with Victor Grabbit, Simon
and the Princess singing ‘With a little help from my friends’. I always
enjoy the children’s dancing and the children gathered from the audience
at the end.
Next year’s, which I’m already looking forward
to, is Beauty and the Beast and, as Iain Lauchlan announced it, some wag
at the front asked which part he would be playing. With fluttering eye
lashes, he answered, ‘Beauty obviously!’
Jane Howard
01-20
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