Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Published Thursday 13 December 2007 at 12:50 by Pru Farrier

Novelty and tradition combine in this razzmatazz of a show, which tightens the tale somewhat to give full rein to the singing talents of Zoë Birkett as Snow White, and Peter Piper, a comedian well able to work a live audience, as Muddles.

Along with Steve Arnott’s witticisms as Nurse Gertie, jokes come fast and steady, including a welter of local references that go down well. Piper’s snatched impersonations are a hoot. Top marks to his Basil Fawlty and Ali G, but, in a cage carried by a gorilla, his David Attenborough “Mountains in the Mist” moment is supremely funny.

The dwarfs are the best I have seen, led by Big Mick, whose song to Snow White is a lovely piece of schmaltz. Birkett has become an effervescent actress as well as powerful ballad singer. Emma Atkins slinks and plots as The Wicked Queen, John Altman struts wickedly as the Henchman and Adam C Booth makes a manful Prince.

Fireworks, a barrage of lights and other effects, strong musical accompaniment with witty catch-tunes for characters, plus a recorded film of Paul O’Grady in irreverent Scouser mode as the man in the mirror, add spectacle and surprise to this hugely entertaining production.