Snow White
Snow White, Dusty Crevice and Gladys. Credit: Tom Soper
Review by Martine Silkstone
People of Buryland, the festive season has begun - oh yes it has! - and the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds has just the pantomime for you and your family.
Story classic, Snow White, opened to a full house last night and with Dame Judi Dench introducing the show as the Voice of the Mirror, it was already off to a strong start.
Of course, this is not Snow White as you may know it. This is panto Snow White - a motorbike riding, overall wearing, dress shunning princess who is about to celebrate her 21st birthday by becoming queen, if only she can outwit the villainous Lucretia.
Lovely Lara Lewis is exactly right for the lead character, with her delicate voice and sweet expression, while Beth Tuckey is wicked - in every sense of the word - as the evil queen, fighting to keep power while being quietly undermined by mirror-based national treasure.
Evil Queen Lucretia and Grumble. Credit: Tom Soper
Special mention should be made of the talented young actors playing the seven 'Scouts', who help Snow White escape the forest and regain her throne. All are word and step perfect and having such a wonderful time, it is contagious.
Indeed, all the cast are amazing including funny girl, Philippa Carson as Gladys, and Peter Baker who, as Grumble, is a comic cross between every Disney butler ever and Trigger from Only Fools and Horses. Brilliant!
Of course, the star of any panto is the Dame (and I don't mean Judi Dench). I loved Craig Painting's Dusty Crevice (not a sentence I ever thought I'd write.) Great physical comedy, fantastic audience interaction and hilarious improvised moments throughout. I especially loved Dusty's long pole and, well, where she keeps her keys is nobody's business.
The crowd, young and old, was entranced from the beginning and that is no easy task.
There were topical gags and...ahem...naughtiness for the adults, along with plenty of fart jokes and slapstick for the kids. Bravo!
If you have small children, this is the perfect panto to introduce them to the experience. The show, while rich with all the classics - he's behind you, oh no it isn't, boo, hiss etc - has a gentle undertone that draws children in without overwhelming them. It gives them time to appreciate what is happening on the stage, to participate and follow the story, to feel part of the action without being intimidated. Throw in the welcoming, intimate charm of the Theatre Royal and it is exactly what you need as a first performance.
Meanwhile, for seasoned guests, it is all you want and more. My cheeks and jaw actually hurt by the end - enough said.
Artistic Director, Owen Calvert-Lyons, started the evening by saying that pantomimes are all about joy and that is exactly what this is - joyous.
Note: Fabulous dancing by the whole cast throughout but look out for Zachary Pang as the dashing Sir Nicholas of Norwich - boy got moves.
FOR FULL SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE