With - as the programme and history suggests - many variations of the story, the bare bones of plot for the tale of Sleeping Beauty remains a much-loved one, despite mixed opinions as to how it actually fits into the institutional tradition that is pantomime and, once again, The Plaza Stockport welcomes Extravaganza Productions working of the fairy tale for this year’s offering.
Princess Aurora (Welsh-born songstress and first class honour Musical Theatre graduate Annalies Williams, who appeared on ITV’s The Voice in 2015), daughter of King Ferdinand (actor/musician Robert Laughlin) and Queen Hermione (veteran Scouse comedian, TV star and Panto Dame favourite Ted Robbins), is born and all’s well, until evil ensues when The Wicked Fairy, Carabosse (Emmerdale’s Claire King) realises she has not been invited to the baby’s christening and makes an unwelcome arrival to cast a curse on her as revenge. The spell? That when she reaches her 18th birthday, she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel {well, the needle} and die! {that must be some grudge}. Enter Lilac Fairy (the Stockport panto return of Shelley Anne Rivers) who changes {improves?!} the spell to the Princess {only} sleeping for 100 years and will be awoken when a handsome Prince rescues her and bestows on her, True Love’s Kiss. Then they will all live happily every after… Wait! Stop!...but this is pantoland.
As the story is evident, complete with dragon and forest, there are many additions to try and make it work as the end of year representation of the marking of the festive period. With the usual gags (and a few new ones!) from Robbins and the welcome return of the ever likeable talent that is fellow Liverpudlian, Bradley Thompson - as Jester, Jangles - the inclusion of seven Welsh witches (?!) who perform a ‘ballet’ before the entry of a further three, and the presence of Goblins, and this is where you get somewhat lost in the detail of the panto checklist! This panto did not include all aspects of the expectation of such a show, but they were mostly here this year. With the consistently highly talented dance team (Kai Charlesworth, Jack Curtis, Ceri Evans, Tom Fisher, Hayley Grainger, Steph Martin, Katie Skelton, Tyler Stubbs and Etalia Turnbull) from Wilkes Academy (under the instruction of James Robinson and his wife Susan Shaw), the dancing in vibrant outfits is back too {along with doubling up as aforementioned cameos} and as polished as ever, in-sync for the most part, it continues to mesmerise me as I am a stickler for it in order to provide maximum impact. Dancer Connor McGrane is great as Lord Chamberlain and Inn Keeper.
With dancing comes music, again under the supervision of Andrew Saunders, and the {albeit small} band are brilliant as they provide the backing for the stunning vocal musicality of leading lady Williams who performs solos beautifully, as well as duets with Prince Florizel (Aston Dobson) and the single song each from Queen Hermione and Lilac Fairy. The choice of songs did, as expected, include two from older musical theatre shows - ‘This Is The Moment’ from Jekyll & Hyde and Miss Saigon’s ‘Sun and Moon’ - as well as a newer one: ‘Time Stops’ from Big Fish, along with JLS’ ‘Eyes Wide Shut’, Jess Glynn’s ‘All I Am’, Alexandra Burke’s ‘Bad Boys’ {impressive} and even a treat from The Greatest Showman as we heard ‘Never Enough’ to take us into the interval, with pyrotechnics.
Overall, the show is a spectacle and the effects and talents of the whole cast and production team contribute to its charm, encouraging audience participation and laughs throughout, with local, current and gimmick references.
Reviewer - John Kristof
on - 31/11/18
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