The Stage

Sleeping Beauty

Published Tuesday 8 December 2009 at 10:40 by Mary Redman

A magical blue gauze rises on Mark Walters’ glittering fairy tale castle. This energetic production relies more on sets and in-house costumes to contrast with the small cast’s neat, direct storytelling. Which is no bad thing.

Elliot Harper (Thom Clutterbuck) and Sarah Scowen (Princess Aurora) in a scene from Sleeping Beauty at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch Photo: Nobby Clark

Simon Jessop’s big-eyed, genial innocent Silly Billy interacts easily with the audience. Chris MacDonnell’s Nanny Clutterbuck wears frocks by Jean Roberts based on a medieval jousting tent, a thatched cottage, a washing-up sink complete with hot and cold taps, a jungle outfit, a panda suit and an iced cake.

Jane Milligan is a truly magnificent, fearsomely wicked Carabosse, using her height and imperious manner to good effect while flashing some splendid thighs. Fairy Forget-Me-Not is a delightful creature played by Lucy Thackeray.

Elliot Harper’s handsome hero Tom and Sarah Scowen’s beautiful Princess Aurora make a believable romantic couple. Foghorn-voiced Marcus Webb is accident prone King Boris.

Matt Devitt’s production is relatively simple and unfussy compared with the glittering magnificence of the costumes and sets. Special effects include the revolving, rising tower and a large dragon with glaring red eyes - all accompanied by musical director Carol Sloman’s original music.

Highlights include the hilarious, immaculately-timed “send down a plate, mate” comedy china smashing routine. Great entertainment.