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Stars explained: * A production of no real merit
with failings in all areas. ** A production showing evidence of not
enough time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real
life into the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script. *** A
good enjoyable show which might have some small flaws but has largely
achieved what it set out to do.**** An excellent show which shows a
great deal of work and stage craft with no noticeable or major
flaws.***** A four star show which has found that extra bit of magic
which lifts theatre to another plane. |
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A panto worth a gander Mother Goose
Sutton Arts Theatre
**** MOTHER Goose as pantomime is now more
than a hundred years old, plying a familiar story of good versus evil,
and decency versus greed. With Sutton Arts, the tale is in capable hands as
a talented cast, complete with child performers, tackle a script by
Peter Wilman.
A Saturday evening crowd was eager to be
entertained and the Company was pleased to oblige. Emily Armstrong and Dexter Whitehead are seasoned
directors. For this show they not only co-directed, but also took
principal roles, shouldering a demanding responsibility. Central to the show was David Thane as Mother
Goose who gave a performance which veered from Northern Dame to cabaret
camp, the highlight of which was his duet with Squire Creep (Gary
Pritchard), You’re My Chu-chi Face. Jack (Phebe Jackson) and Jill (Kate Lowe) were
endearing as star crossed lovers, Phoebe Hooper excelled as Princess of
Light, taking full advantage of her rhyming couplets. Her nemesis, the Prince of Darkness (Joseph
Hicklin), scowled and threatened as all baddies must, in a role which
was a shade underwritten.
Libby Allport had the best dress of the night as
Queen of Frozonia, and opened the second half in some style with a
confident vocal performance, and a pleasing frozen special effect. Tom Brookes kept the music moving along nicely as
musical director, although his awareness that he was always on screen
seemed to vary from time to time! Emily, as Black Country Doris Daydream, and
Dexter, as Simple Simon, revelled in their respective roles as
frustrated lovers and comedy duo, playing their parts with gusto and
comedy. Emily’s accent was frighteningly authentic making mere Brummie
seem positively refined. The set piece ensemble scenes were well staged by
co-choreographers Emma Allen and Julie Johnson, and the protégés of the
latter from her school of dancing acquitted themselves admirably both in
the chorus scenes and the ballet sequence. The show was lavishly costumed, wardrobe
mistresses Rosemary Richmond and Ann Morris will have been kept very
busy side stage, not least for the eye pleasing walk down. John Islip
and his team produced a functional main set which was skilfully
augmented by projection backdrops and copious pyrotechnic entrances. Highlights included the beast in the forest,
abducting the cast one by one with the skill of a trained assassin, and
the show-stopping moment when the cast flew over the audience in a hot
air balloon! A special mention too for Gary Pritchard’s Squire Creep
which Gary played with understated character providing a solid reliable
counterpoint to the inevitable theatrical excess around him. Joseph Flanagan as Priscilla, the goose that lays
the golden eggs, may not have needed much time to learn his lines, but
gave an enjoyable physical performance as the Goose-knapped goose. The
first half sets the scene for the second half, which gathers pace nicely
as the songs and special effects come thick and fast. The howls of laughter and warnings from the
children in the audience testify to its success as a family friendly,
crowd pleasing production complete with slapstick, singalongs, audience
participation and double entendres. To 20-12-14. Gary Longden
06-12-15 |
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