Beauty and the Beast
Review by Martine Silkstone
When you think of panto, you probably think of all the special ingredients that can be used to make this type of show special and up-lifting. Slapstick, audience interaction, comedy, music, an evil villain, a flamboyant dame and, of course, a happy ending. There are a few clowning classics to choose from - water pistols into the crowd, custard pie throwing or perhaps the classic wallpapering/cooking/launderette scene complete with foam and often hilarious improv by the cast members involved.
All these things are great fun and can be found in this year’s Marina Theatre production of Beauty and the Beast.
All these things in abundance, in fact.
However, for true panto success, you must carefully balance the traditional highlights within the chosen story while maintaining a clear narrative; one where you still connect with the characters and root for the good guys. At least, that is important for me.
Unfortunately, in throwing ALL the ingredients at this panto, the show has rather lost its flow and has become a series of set pieces, with the core fairy tale forfeited along the way. Just as you’re getting to grips with the Beast and his backstory, it’s time for a birthday hoe-down. Belle finds herself trapped in the castle then, hang on, four of the cast are now singing about Little Jimmy Brown while smashing groin-level saucepans with a wooden spoon.
Yes, anything goes in a panto, but it needs to be vaguely relevant, and I still need a story to engage with; this is all just a bit too messy (and not in a cake-batter-to-the-face kind of way).
That said…
The cast are clearly having great time and it is still entertaining with some cracking jokes along the way.
Katie-Elizabeth Allgood is suitably sweet and vocally great as Belle, and James Franklin has an endearing charm and some great lines as the Professor. Meanwhile, Luke Byford makes for a fabulous dame, surprising us with his amazing voice (and legs), and Georgina Liley - understudy for our performance - is wonderfully wicked as the Witch Mauvaise. Then you have the fittingly handsome Ash Stevenson as the Beast and “Lowestoft’s favourite”, Terry Gleed, in his usual role of ‘audience comedy liaison’ if you will.
Stand out performance, however, comes from X-Factor finalist Stevi Richie as Gaston. He brings just the right amount of ‘ham’ and rather impressive muscle definition to the role, with a fantastic voice and natural stage presence that befits the arrogant character being portrayed.
Special mention also for the four dancers and six, very young supporting cast members, all of whom nail the choreography and bring extra heart to proceedings.
Gosh, there was so much to enjoy if only it could have been a little simpler. Perhaps we could have lost the gorilla, the ventriloquist dummy, or the flaccid baguette - none of which had any relevance. Less is more as they say.
But hey, did I laugh throughout? Yes. Did I leave the theatre feeling lighter? Yes.
So, I guess the show did what a panto should do. They succeeded where it counts and if a full-on, old-fashioned, seaside panto is what you like - it’s worth a look.
Sleeping Beauty is at Marina Theatre, Lowestoft until January 1.
FOR FULL SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE