SLEEPING
BEAUTY
Cut
to the Chase at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch
01.12.2014
There's glitter galore from rafters to
stage floor, to costumes and props in Matt Devitt's
spectacular-to-look-at production, written by Nicholas Pegg, with
music and lyrics by Carol Sloman who's also in the pit leading the
band. These three are the highly experienced leaders of what the Cut
to the Chase company boast is a totally in-house production.
Not having been to a Queen's panto for
some years there have been changes. Gone are the trademark
advertisements for local sponsors edging the scenery and gone too are
the flashes whose bangs I've hated since childhood.
So life for the audience is more
peaceful in one way but it wouldn't be a Queen's panto if it didn't
have loud comedians working sugar-enhanced young people into a frenzy
of excitement. And that's not counting the built-in danger of two-
and three-year-old males, would-be heroes clumsily wielding flashy
plastic swords from the souvenir stall in the foyer in carefree
manner.
There's a smart opening number
featuring the young cast of singers and dancers who are notable for
their concentration, smart Medieval-style turnout and looking as if
they are really enjoying themselves. Recruited from among the
theatre's youth group and open auditions in a local supermarket.
Clearly fertile territory for would-be X-Factorites.
With a small cast of seven adults it's
simply told without too many diversions. Yes, there's the haunted
bedroom but none of the messy routines from the past. Sam Pay's Silly
Billy is a lively character with a droll face whose “mother”
Nurse Nelly (Simon Jessop) wears not so much costumes as commentaries
ranging from the relatively demure to the outrageous. And “she”
has eyes only for the hapless audience member recruited by her son.
Also on this comedy team with a
penchant for innuendo, is Fred Broom's clumsy King Ethelbert the
Unsteady.
Two superb fairies rule the Kingdom of
Hullabaloonia. Megan Leigh Mason's strong Fairy Primrose battles
against Claire Storey's demanding Carabosse from the Joan Rivers
School of Acting.
Then there are the lovers. Rachel
Dawson is a perfect Princess Aurora as innocent and naive as the day
is long. Her kitchen boy amour Tom Clutterbuck is played by Tom
Sutcliffe with a determined jaw and a heroic way with swashing a
buckle.
The young team come into their own in a
fine performance as Woodland Sprites with spotty red mushroom hats,
taunting their enemies as the enormous inflatable dragon does
everything demanded of it.
Two hours and twelve minutes
(including interval) of great fun and good value. All praise to the
Queen's backstage team for costumes, sets, props, lighting etc. etc.
production photograph by Mark Sepple