Beauty and the Beast

Published Thursday 16 December 2004 at 13:00 by Hugh Homan

Amidst all the panto trappings it was, at first, slightly difficult to follow Straparola’s classic fairytale of Beauty’s selfless love for the ogre at the bottom of her wood but what the dickens, it’s Christmas and where would we be without a dame and a village simpleton to flesh out the story.

For the last panto before the Theatre Royal undergoes major restoration, director Colin Blumenau has ensured that the punters will remember what can happen on Britain’s second oldest working stage with a super, colourful, tuneful romp that cannot fail to please young and old.

From the wild gagging of James Nickerson - variously erotique, bionique and, rarely, platonique Monique - to the charming singing of Caroline Keiff as Beauty, there was absolutely never a dull moment in a beautifully balanced show. Songwriter and MD Francis Goodhand provides some terrific songs, sounds and musical pastiches and Will Hargreaves’ set reminds us all of the best illustrated storybooks of our childhoods.

Andrew Westfield is an imperious baddie who has a terrific rock number, Bennett Andrews is an endearing rattlepate, William Kenning an awful Beast and imposing Prince while Scott Cripps and Jane Lesley as Croissant and Baguette move and talk as one and have a terrific tap sequence which for me was the highlight of the show. Gemma Sandy is a lovely Princess Rose, Mark Stratton an avuncular Monsieur Bertrand and Josh Reynolds and Catherine Wilson inspire the juvenile dancers. Formidable, as Monique might say.