Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Published Monday 3 December 2007 at 10:45 by Kevin Berry

An eighth Harrogate pantomime for Tim Stedman, always a marvellous fool, and a first panto anywhere for Andy Cryer as Nurse Nellie. Together they have the makings of a really popular team. Cryer has reportedly been consulting Christopher Biggins for guidance with his role.

Stedman is the comic pulse of Harrogate pantomimes. He has a stream of hilarious riddles and an absolutely enthralling and very clever silent movie-style scene with Howard Chadwick. With his exquisite physical grace and elastic face, Stedman is able to make the predictable gag of walking up ladders with a length of sticky wallpaper memorably funny.

Cryer does not have good enough verbal material to work with, at least in the first act. This strange, because Nicholas Pegg’s jokes are usually the second element of a Harrogate panto, after Tim Stedman, to be praised.

Some cutting, particularly of superfluous songs, will pay immediate dividends, as will more character movement in the first act. The playing has terrific spirit and Philip Witcomb has created scenery with enchanting colours.

It is good to see the Prince and the Wicked Queen fighting with long sticks, in the Oriental style. If they slow down a touch, their tussle with look even more exciting.