Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Published Friday 21 December 2007 at 16:00 by Barbara Champion

The supportive cast works this much-loved story as a treat for the kids, who scream their approval throughout.

Kellie Shirley and Simon James Long play Snow White and the Prince with conviction - they sing well and look striking in the lavish costumes.

Andree Bernard is a frightening and talented Wicked Queen Lucretia. With the reluctant Prince she performs on amusing tango and is involved in all sorts of designing trouble.

Entering on a mobility scooter, Jonathan D Ellis is fun as Nurse Gertie and gives a polished rendition of Chicken Korma to the music of Nessun Dorma.

Gareth Oliver as Muddles bridges all the gaps and pleases families with his cheeky monkey ventriloquist act. Louise English is the optimistic Forest Fairy and the 14 children look amazing as forest animals.

The Magnificent Seven Dwarfs and young villagers are nicely played by pupils of the Roshe School. Trisha Dams devises interesting choreography within impressive sets. The Steve White Trio, sounding more like a septet, drives the special music along. There are a lot of vocals, nicely delivered but with no pops.

Uncredited, Paul O’Grady makes several appearances as The mirror on the Wall. The strong white and red lighting which is beamed on to the audience, without warning, at the end of many scenes, is blinding, unpleasant and lingering.