This evening's performance of 'Sleeping Beauty' at The Queen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham truly tested the old theatre maxim, 'The show must go on'. Star-billing had been given to Kerry Katona who was playing the evil witch Carabosse, however, she had had to withdraw whilst waiting the result of her PCR test, and so in true stalwart fashion, the company's Stage Manager, Miranda Parker, took the role on, entering with script-in-hand (although she really didn't need it, excpet perhaps as a comfort blanket). A real trouper, and an accomplished performer.
In most respects this was a traditional pantomime, and several of panto's set pieces were included, and the jokes ranged from the down-right silly to the rather risque. What was unforgivable however, in this reviewer's opinion, was when there was a serious costume malfunction with the Dame during one of the songs, stripping Jeff Longmore's costume down to his bra and little else, he should have exited the stage and attended to his dress before returning. Continuing and even glorying in this, making it a 'virtue', was not for a family show at all. Further, in another costume and routine later on, when Longmore appeared as Tina Turner, his costume was, in a word, obscene.
To say that corners had been cut in this production would be something of an understatement. The 'band' consisted of one man. The show contained a mixture of original recordings featuring the real artiste singing whilst a member of the cast sang over the top; some backing tracks, during which the 'band' extremporised on a drum kit; and a couple of times when he played the keyboards for the cast. Sets were painted and colourful, but minimalist; and costumes were second hand at best. The lighting was functional, but there were no specials and no effects, save one at the very end of the first act; and we then understood where the budget had gone. We were shown the fairy (Kate Salmon) on Father Christmas's sleigh (complete with presents) flying (with the use of hydraulics) across and over the stage. I am still trying to work out what relevance Santa's sleigh had with the panto story...!
The rest of the cast included Bruce Jones (Les Battersby from Coronation Street), and Nathan Morris (Hollyoaks); with Enola Dyer as the Princess (lovely voice!), and Chris Jeffries trying his best as Wally. The company also used an ensemble of child dancers for a couple of the numbers, and without a programme [the company chose not to produce one], or cast list, I have no way of knowing who they were or where they came from.
The show contained some truly fun ideas, and could have worked much better than it did. A tower with a spinning wheel was placed DSL, and from where I was seated, the action in this scene was hidden from my view. A large safety mat for one of the set pieces in the show was clearly visible the whole time thus ruining the effect; stage-hands were visible in the wings, and 'The Twelve Days Of Christmas' was simply a lamentable mess. However, other ideas worked excellently, such as the fire-breathing scary dragon being a pink softy called Sarah, and a lovely songsheet involving two young audience members.
VERDICT: A truly mixed bag of the good, bad, and down-right ugly. The show had potential, but one had the distinct feeling that those in charge had jumped overboard before the ship sank.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 21.12.21
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 21.12.21
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