Panto Review: Sleeping Beauty - Richmond Theatre ✭✭✭
Sleeping Beauty
Richmond Theatre
Review by Philippa Stubbs
8th December 2016: Panto season has come around all too quickly this year and
our first one of the season was brought to Richmond Theatre by First Family
Entertainment.
Sleeping Beauty is probably one of the more commonly
performed pantomimes and this one had the traditional story along with a
sprinkling of dad jokes, slapstick and some of this year’s viral internet
crazes. Apple pen anyone?
Mat Rixon played a fantastic Nursie with just the right
amount of ‘tongue in cheek’ humour and
sass. He looked so comfortable up on the stage and is clearly one of the best
dames in the country.
Chris Jarvis returns to Richmond, this time as the loveable
Chester the Jester who was certainly a hit with the youngsters, and TV legend
Maureen Lipman makes an appearance as the evil fairy Carabosse, complete with
dragon and gothic glitz.
The well-known stars are joined by Lauren Hood who plays a
sweet and naïve beauty and Dan Partridge as the typical thigh-slapping
heart-throb of a prince. Both roles complement each other and create the magic
and cheese of a classic fairy-tale couple, particularly during their slushy pop
duets.
As with previous pantomimes we have seen here the
choreography and ensemble were strong both in dance and characterisation. The
children were particularly great this year and there are some stars in the
making. They had obviously worked extremely hard and were enjoying every
minute.
Despite all the good moments, something was missing this
year and there were parts that seemed a bit lacklustre. The six year old we
borrowed thought it was “good” though, and
it certainly won’t send you to sleep for a hundred years.
3 Stars ✭✭✭
Sleeping Beauty is on until 8th January 2017
