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Katherine Parker-Jones, as Carabosse and Amy Lyons as Princess Beauty. Pictures: F8 Creates Sleeping Beauty Worcester Rep **** Christmas is upon us – it’s pantomime
season! In Worcester the charming story of Princess Beauty and her
gallant Prince Hugo delighted the family audience with a colourful and
lively show, full of light frivolity and energy. Ian Good who directs and plays the pantomime
dame, Nurse Dottie Dettol, brings off a very successful performance once
again with all the traditional elements and some original touches as
well. Amy Lyons makes her professional debut as
Princess Beauty and does brilliantly – her dance and singing complement
her youthful charm. She is partnered by Matthew Manning as Prince Hugo –
she succeeds in slaying the dragon where he fails! Katherine Parker-Jones, as Carabosse, is not so
evil as to frighten the younger members of the audience: her petulant
determination to spoil the party and the happiness of the principals is
finally defeated and she is brought back into the fold.
The audience favourite is Fester the Jester
played by Nathan Blyth with plenty of corny jokes, youthful energy and
mischievous pranks. His mother Nurse Dottie (Ian Good) is slick,
professional and effective with his audience interactions and gratuitous
inuendoes. The young dancers join the three professional
dancers to provide wonderful and delightful energy with their colourful
costumes; the final wedding scene is visually excellent. Sarah Day
marshalls the team with her creative choreography. The poisonous potions, the beetles, the dragon
and the lively music provided by Rudy Percival, Calum Harrison and Rui
De Sousa-Stayton complement a visually stimulating spectacle – the
costumes, (Katie Butterworth), the set design (Gareth Morgan) and the
lighting (Dan Clarkson) are all excellent. There are plenty of local references and gentle
jokes with local allusions, and humorous acknowledgement of sponsors.
The snatches of well-known pop songs were hilarious. Once again Worcester Theatres have provided us
with a festive and fun-filled family pantomime to provide humour and
charm in an unsteady and troubled world. Tim Crow 05-12-25 |
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