The Stage

Sleeping Beauty and the Beast

Published Thursday 7 December 2006 at 14:05 by Scott Matthewman

Chesham’s Elgiva Theatre is building a reputation for high quality, professional pantomime that involves all sectors of the local community. Sleeping Beauty and the Beast, the third collaboration with Newpalm Productions, continues in the same vein.

If anything, there is perhaps an over-reliance on young dancers this year. There was a noticeable drop in attention from the young audience during some of the numbers, which director/performer Stuart Morrison was luckily able to recover in every appearance as the likeable Muddles.

Villain Linda Clark is suitably demonic as wicked fairy Carabosse and also coped admirably with a sore throat that, if anything, added additional layers of menace.

But it’s James Horne who makes the show, with his Nurse Wanda deservedly stealing every scene. The dame’s traditional outlandish outfits are on display as never before here, with costume changes coming every bit as quickly as the rapid fire gags.

The principals have less to do in this panto, perhaps inevitably, given that the eponymous princess must spend much of the time asleep. And while Clare Russell as Princess Beauty is an accomplished performer, she struggles to compete with Daniel Moore’s Prince William, whose impressive singing voice captivated the young audience.

The second act struggles plotwise, meaning that some of the traditional set pieces occasionally feel as if they’re being ticked off a check list. Still, when the cast are clearly having a ball and their infectious enthusiasm is taking the audience along for the ride, who can complain?