Sleeping Beauty

DATE21st February 2019

SOCIETYSS Simon & Jude's A.D.S

VENUES S Simon and Jude C of E School

TYPE OF PRODUCTIONPantomime

DIRECTORVanessa Dean-Boardman

CHOREOGRAPHERJennifer Dagnall

ASSISTANT DIRECTORIan Dean-Boardman

Report

Author: Liz Hume-Dawson

SS.SJ.ADS production of Sleeping Beauty directed by Vanessa Dean-Boardman, assisted by Ian Dean-Boardman opened to a beautiful fairy glen, Megan Pimbley playing Fairy Queen Sunbeam was surrounded by beautifully dressed fairies and an elf. The youngest fairy being 4 was an absolute delight and she gave her all (one to watch for the future). The fairies added the magic that pantomime needs and looked colourfully ethereal.

Stuart McCaig as Jingles the Jester got the audience going and kept the rapport with them throughout, delivering golden gags with props and keeping up the character of Jingles at all times: impressive (even carrying a cast member off stage)! While delivering this performance you can clearly see he is having fun.

Rachel Lomax’s Princess Marigold looked lovely and sung beautifully, with a hard job to do as an actor she comes in late to the script and no sooner established, she then has to fall asleep for a hundred years! But she rose to the occasion.

Cheryl Rigby played Fairy Nettle and again had a hard task as an actor with big gaps in between entrances: she did this with aplomb as the bad fairy. I only wish I could have seen more of her – she obviously achieved the magic of leaving you wanting more.

Suzanne Smith’s cameo was a strong performance as Brenda the Baker and it was easy to see why Franz The Wood cutter played by David Crank would want to woo her.

The cast worked well together and although some first night nerves were evident in some dropping of the energy the company worked well to overcome this - just make sure certain characters keep up the pace. The audience were with the story throughout and as last year there is such a strong sense of community here it is always a delight to visit. From cast to choreography, backstage, costumes, set, lighting and sound it really has the feel-good factor.

The colours used from the opening of the show to the colour-themed finale all added to the magic of pantomime.

Thank you for making my guest and I feel welcome