Mother Goose

Published Wednesday 9 December 2009 at 12:00 by Anne Broom

Mirror in hand, gorgeously arrayed in ostrich plumes, periwig and frock-coat, Michael D’Cruze dramatically personifies Evil Spirit Vanity in an age-old battle with Fairy Goodness (Yasmin Wilde). Pitting greed and envy against goodness and honesty, he attempts to dominate Devonshire. And honesty is the keyword for this festive offering of homely, colourful fast-moving family fun.

Director Rebecca Manson Jones brings audiences an ensemble production that incorporates everything that’s good about pantomimes, imbued with tradition from first to last, from thigh-slapping principal boy to messy slapstick castle renovation.

Indomitable Steve Bennett’s Mother Goose, matriarch of Much Goosing on the Exe, is an immensely capable, popular dame with excellent rapport. A warm-hearted, larger than life figure, she undergoes a bold and topical make-over in the magic pool. Emerging ready to party, clad spectacularly in glittery pink basque, Vanity believes he’s won the wager. With scary spiders, a goose land ballet with comic pas de deux, a loveable warm-hearted Squire (Andrew MacBean) who carries a torch for the dame, and a personable, if somewhat travel-worn, Priscilla the Goose (Holly Hughes), there’s music, dance and plenty of action. Unaccompanied, the ensemble’s Fly Home Little Goose, led by Tracey Penn (Jack Squidgely) is a magical moment.