Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Published Tuesday 4 January 2005 at 16:55 by Pru Farrier

This a perfectly-honed pantomime package. It has few surprises but there is little to fault. On the plus side, from the point of view of young children, is the fact that the story is clearly told, with no unnecessary embellishments and just one malevolent figure to focus on, Venetia Deane’s Queen Cruella, regally strutting her stuff in resplendent costumes as she issues commands.

The other striking figure is Michael James Bachelor’s Sarah the Cook, who appears in ever-more elaborate frocks topped with highly creative hats. Stu Francis is at ease in the role of Muddles, the Queen’s Jester, with his northern wit and banter going down well with both children and adults. His lovesick moments are a hoot and he makes the audience singalong a very complex and comical affair.

The show is notable for good music and an imaginative range of songs. Stuart Graeme, as Prince Carl, has great rhythm as a singer, though is a little stiff as an actor. He and Michelle Hardwick, as Snow White, sing their duets as if they really feel the sentiments. Both should relax more to convey something of the same in their spoken lines.

Mervyn Francis is avuncular as Horace the Henchman, though powerful enough in the knife scene to make the threat seem real. The dwarfs, collectively the Magnificent Seven, are clearly very experienced pantomime performers.