THERE are quite a few things that need to be done before Christmas gets here and, for many people, that includes the annual trip to the pantomime.
For those who are looking for a very traditional production, look no further than Eastbourne’s Devonshire Park Theatre.
This year their festive offering is Snow White. Now, before I start, I have a problem here.
There seem to be seven things missing from the title, namely Dwarfs. I do understand that we are plagued by the ultra-sensitive now, but leaving them out of the title doesn’t stop them appearing on the stage, and being a key part of the story. Anyway, rant over.
The opening village scene is everything that you would expect. Bright, colourful, fast-paced and a great opportunity for the audience to meet, one by one, the main characters in the tale. The first of whom is the very dashing, Prince Simon (Ben Tyler), who has arrived in Sovainia from a land far away and who launches into Roll With It by Oasis, the opening number.
The villain of the piece, the wicked queen, Narcissi, is played by Carli Norris. She wastes no time in encouraging the boos and the hisses, and with her rhyming couplets, she never misses! (surely you could see that one coming). Seriously evil and, occasionally, comic, she seems to be having the time of her life despising Snow White and constantly consulting her Magic Mirror – which features a very funny celebrity star!
Snow White herself is played by Georgie Hales who transforms as the show goes on from a wide-eyed innocent, forbidden to leave the castle grounds, to a much stronger, sword-wielding, independent woman, by the end of act two. With crystal clear vocals, and looking every inch the “Disney Princess” she has the audience on her side from the very start.
The seven dwarves (I’ll use the correct spelling here), and the junior ensemble are played by members of the “young company”, who are split into two teams. You may get to see Seren Gordon, Amelia Gurr, Mila Hemsley, Darcie Jenkins, Sydney Jenkins, Matilda Lawson, Ain Lee, Sullivan Mansbridge, Ella McLoughlin, Katie Parkes and Isla Sherwin… or, it could be Lola Allen, Ava Bentley, Elsie Brown, Jake Cooper, Beth Head, Kallie Hodge, Alexis Mundy, Tilly Pelling, Molly Skates, Katie Walter and Emily Young.
The adult ensemble consists of four superb dancers, Abi Fullard, Zachary Kirkby, Amy Mcevoy and (here’s a showbizzy name for you) Bastiaan Van Leeuwen. They have so many costume changes and some very complex choreography to deal with, but take it all in their stride and are full of energy and enthusiasm from start to finish.
It is now the 12th year that Martin Knight and Tucker have starred in the Devonshire Park pantomime, and it shows. They work together so very well and provide laughs galore throughout the production. Whether they are trying a tricky tongue twister together or building the biggest birthday cake in the world, for a very small dwarf, they have a connection that is just magical to experience every year.
Another thing that helps to make the Devonshire Park pantomime stand out is that they insist on having a live band. This year, once again, they are spread out between the four boxes at the side of the auditorium, as the orchestra pit is used for “other things”, they create a full sound to accompany the huge variety of songs the feature throughout the show. Led by “Uncle” Carl Greenwood, the musicians, Robert Cousins, Andy Stewart, Chris Simmonds, Jacob Booth and Jennifer Jones, deserve a great deal of credit for their hard work.
Credit also goes to the creative team behind the production. Writer and Director Chris Jordan has a superb team around him with Lighting Designer, Ryan Tate, and Sound Designer, Charlie Tipler, making sure that we can see and hear everything well, Choreographer, Matt Nicholson puts the entire cast through their paces and Costume Designer, Shelley Claridge, makes sure that everyone is dressed to perfection, which is particularly noticeable in the red and gold finale.
Tradition counts for so much when it comes to pantomimes, and the Eastbourne Theatres production team are very aware of this. Families come from miles around every year to see this Christmas treat and their efforts are, once again, rewarded with a top-class production that would even put a smile on The Grinch’s face!
***** Five Stars
