NODA Review: Sleeping Beauty

Report

Author: Alan Bruce

STONE REVELLERS MUSICAL THEATRE

Present

SLEEPING BEAUTY

The announcement of a new Royal birth cause much excitement, with the opening guitar strains to Welcome To The Panto.  We’re there, a great opening full cast number. The first of many.

Set in a Steampunk styled village of designated pantomime denomination, Director Alec Voss weaved his spell with the talented cast bringing Alan Frayn’s Sleeping Beauty to St Michael’s Church Hall possibly it’s last panto hosting with the Crown Wharf Theatre’s looming opening next year.

Good Fairy Lilac – Maddie Hall, opened proceedings in fine rhyme, beating Bad Witch Hazel – Emma Wilson to it just in time. These two were an inspired pairing, well matched foes throughout proceedings more to follow down the readings.

As the fun fanfares vied with the King for the last note, did I mentioned Royal birth, much trepidation from King Cactus – Simon Hills and Queen Marigold – Charlotte Andrews, especially of a pending Hazel curse, changing nappies me thinks they’d best employ a nurse.

Dame/Nurse by Royal Appointment, Hettie Harpic a completely round the bend character, played by  Rob Mincher, who brought a unique brand of mayhem. She was aided and abetted but mainly hampered by Muddles – beautifully timed, a very thoughtful performance with fabulous facial expressions courtesy of Tamsin Brown, she played the audience to perfection.

The King’s Point and Needle Inspection Experts – P.A.N.T.I.Es  originally the mailroom operatives Fetch and Carrie – Hannah Adams and Aimee Hull respectively easily fulfilled their comic duo roles, with an impressively paced postal patter skit.

We have a lovely bit of choreography from Angela Whitney, with young Rose growing through to sixteen during the course of the apt age related show number. Hettie’s Marilyn Monroe inspired rendition of Happy Birthday Mr President was hilarious.

Act II opened with Muddles doing a great rendition of What’s Goin’ On? The songs just kept getting better and better as the show went on, Rose and her Suitor Prince Alex – George Harratt, belting out Dead Ringer For Love. This leads Rose to discover a spinning wheel in a forgotten locked tower.

This was probably my favourite scene from the show. Hazel pleads with Rose to Stay, this was sung in a beautiful yet evil fashion, Hazel and Lilac trading vocal chops to seduce/steer Rose to make the right decision for the rest of her life, she dances torn between the two.

The scene culminating in a powerful passion filled Wrecking Ball. Rose succumbed, time to sleep. A lovely instrumental teasing hint of When September Comes leads us back to the Royal court and the villagers all fall under Hazel’s spell. We also had Trouble and Bring Me To Life, If Carlsberg did Pantomime music, via my favourites, this would probably be the best collection of panto music ever.

Whilst the King had his PANTIE’s, Hazel had Egor – Dan Stubbs, characterful  fun filled portrayal.

Great well-lit Steampunk inspired set, costumes likewise, supporting cast looked very on trend, my only pick-up would be the Kings footwear, and the Queen‘s pink trousers under a sumptuously full frontless wraparound long skirt, tights or leggings would have set it off. Very minor points I know.

Doff of the cap to Musical Director Dan Stubbs. A great thoughtfully selected set of classic rock music right up my Strasse. The band were excellent, great sound mix, you could pick out every part.

Very impressive singing from the leads particularly Hazel, Lilac, Muddles and Rose.

Sleeping Beauty was a joy to behold. Oh Yes it Was!