Sleeping Beauty

Published Friday 7 December 2007 at 12:05 by Pru Farrier

Pocket-sized comedian Pee Wee Price hardly needs the name of Durham’s legendary saint to endear himself to the audience in his fourth Gala panto.

For as Cuthbert the Court Jester, he ratchets up the fun factor through off-the-cuff remarks, trembly bottom lip and snatches of spot-on impersonations in a warm and witty performance.

Straightforward storytelling unfolds against pretty backdrops without gimmickry until the second act, when a huge mechanical dragon ups the sense of magic in a scene bursting with fiery dancing and swashbuckling combat.

Before then, Joanne Heywood holds centre stage, relishing her role as Carabosse in a powerful piece of characterisation against the humorous buffoonery of Paul Hartley, as impecunious King Humphrey, and dame George Kelly’s Queen Hilda.

Dave Lee, directing a smooth production, though lacking a oomph at the start, has injected up to the minute jokes into the script, along with a few old chestnuts - particularly relevant to the region, King Humphrey’s lost his money in Northern Rock.

Maureen Nolan, resplendent in white satin, plays the Crystal Fairy with down to earth practicality, Mike Holoway is handsome and wholesome as Prince Gallant/Valiant, joining Lisa-Marie Bowman’s sweet Princess Briar Rose in charming duets. The theatre still needs to sort out its temperamental microphones though.