The Stage

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Published Monday 12 December 2011 at 10:00 by Clare Whitehead

If traditional pantomime is all about the story, then look no further this Christmas than the Alban Arena for the perfect execution of that ideal. Evolution Productions’ Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs cleverly teases its audience with charm and good humour, into a cacophony of delight that threatens to blow the roof off.

Toyah Wilcox in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs The Alban Arena, St Albans

Pip Minnithorpe’s intrinsically clever direction ensures this is not a show about one performer. The committed, well drilled cast bring out the best in each other and invariably themselves. Toyah Willcox’s frightening Queen Ivannah belts out bitter songs that juxtapose affably with Bob Golding and Phil Gallagher’s double act of Muddles and Herman. The production has no dame, but their warm chemistry provides enough gags to counteract the sometimes dark narrative that this tale of Snow White inhabits. Their traditional sing-a-long is a lesson in controlled hysteria.

If there has to be a star of the show then it is the seven dwarfs themselves, who bring plenty of energy to the sharply honed script. Renaming the characters is a subtle, original touch. Paddy Holden’s innocent Loopy is loved by all.

This is a pantomime that knows what it does best. By remaining within its tight framework, what it may lack in big band spectacular and finesse it makes up for with some good singing, pleasant staging, plenty of hissing and a sweet romantic denouement. This is festive fare with a heart.