Beauty and the Beast panto @ Marina Theatre Lowestoft

So I was invited to another Panto over the weekend, this time it was Beauty and the Beast at the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft. I had to take my little niece Amelia. I took her last year to see Sleeping Beauty (and she didn’t stop talking about it for the whole year). This year she was so so so excited to see Beauty and the Beast. She has been so excited all week and when I got to my sister’s house to pick her up she was dressed head to toe, tiara included, in her Belle outfit and she looked like an adorable little princess, even though I am biased, I think you’ll agree she was very royal. We got to the Marina and I have to thank the staff for their warm and welcoming greeting. It was such a fun night, we both had lots of fun dancing in our seats, shouting out to the characters and Amelia absolutely loved it. I said to the Marina Theatre staff before we arrived that it is the child’s opinion more than mine that counts and I have to say, my niece absolutely loved it.

Paul Holman Associates have yet again produced this panto which has been sponsored by cottages.com. Most will know the story of Beauty and the Beast from the famous Disney version, this is the one myself and Amelia mostly know. The story shows quaint and quiet little Belle forced to live with a Beast in order to free her father. She soon starts to realise that the Beast is not as bad as she first envisaged and eventually falls in love with him, breaking the curse on the Beast and his enchanted castle. Obviously it is not that simple when you have a witch and a self-centred misogynist in the way but as with all fairy tales a happy ending is achieved. The beautiful Angela Lansbury song does not feature in this panto although we listened to it in the car to make up for that.

  Jeremy Edwards, best known for his roles in Holby City and Hollyoaks, stars in this year’s panto cast. Playing the role of Gaston, not exactly the villain of the show, but definitely no hero, he is seen as the heartthrob in the story but the only one who does not see things this way is Belle herself. Edwards made several naughty jokes during the performance which I am sure the adults will enjoy and the children won’t have a clue what’s going on. Terry Gleed returned to Lowestoft this year again in the comedic role, this time as Freddy. Gleed is a natural comic on stage and is very entertaining. He is very good and interactive with the audience and the smart fart thing at the end with the children from the audience had me in stitches. Fenton Gray joins the cast as Madame Cherie Trifle. I am pleased to know that Gray was once one of my favourite characters in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats, Gus the Theatre Cat. Gray has some very interesting costumes and attire in the panto, all of which were hilariously entertaining. I am absolutely gutted I missed the massage scene as Amelia needed to go to the toilet but I heard so many laughs from the auditorium, when I returned Gray was a cooked turkey – don’t ask just go find out for yourselves that’s all I can say. My favourite bit from Gray has to be his rendition of Beyoncé’s Single Ladies. I don’t think he will win an MTV award but he definitely entertained me.

Helen Jeckells duals as the Hagwitch and also choreographed the show. I spoke to her during rehearsals and she said how excited she was to be both on stage as the witch and behind the scenes as the choreographer. Jeckells performance was Amelia’s favourite and she spoke about how much she loved her voice, hair and costume. Matthew Wellman is the Beast and Prince. I really liked his performance and the tribute to Phantom of the Opera, he definitely had that phantom voice and presence on stage, and I thought his performance was great. Molly Howe is Fairy Rosebud and she is a very angelic and happy fairy on stage. I particularly loved her glittery flowery wand. Rosie Hale joins the cast as Belle and Graeme Henderson plays her father.     

There are lots of music, dancing, singing and of course with all pantos’ plenty of audience participation. It is very child friendly and definitely worth taking the children to see this year. Richard Cheshire has directed this panto and I have to admit there is plenty of entertainment for the adult audience too. Lots of comedy to be had by the whole family and the group of older ladies in front of me were definitely getting there monies worth by getting fully involved so you are bound to have some fun and laughter while at the Marina Theatre’s panto. There are usually two performances a day up until New Year’s Day but it is best to check the website for full details and check availability or alternatively phone the box office on (01522) 533 200. Hot off the press also, the panto for next year at the Marina Theatre will be Aladdin and I have to say my niece is already excited, asking when can we go; so as you can see it is a really fun night and we will definitely be returning next year to see Aladdin. Please get in touch on twitter @AaronBurgess89. And have a wonderful Christmas and all the best for 2017.

Jack and the Beanstalk Panto at Norwich Theatre Royal

It’s that time of year again, Christmas, which can mean only one thing, Panto season! So as you can all assume I was very excited last week when I went to see the Norwich Theatre Royal panto for 2016, Jack and the Beanstalk. After last year’s fantastic performance of Snow White I was super excited as you can imagine. I thought I would take Mother along with me as she loves a bit of theatre and audience participation. We went for a Nando’s before (of course now I get the 20% NHS discountJ). I tell you this as it features in the panto. I also cannot believe that I met Helen Fraser, best known in my eyes for playing Sylvia ‘BodyBag’ Hollamby in the ITV series Bad Girls (me and Mother were such great fans). And it was also fantastic to see darts sports personality Bobby George enjoying a bit of panto. We had such a great evening. Yes it is all a bit cheesy but I love cheese. The NTR panto is full of singing, dancing, great costumes, audience participation, rhyming couplets and a bit of entertainment for the adults. It is absolute great fun for all the family.

Jack and the Beanstalk panto for NTR is written, directed and starring Richard Gauntlett, playing the panto Dame Nigella Trottalot. I am a big fan of Gauntlett’s, seeing him last year in the panto was a great experience and he was a great dame again this year. I also saw him on the Gilbert and Sullivan tour in Pirates this year. He really engages well with the audience, makes them laugh loads and gets everyone involved. My mum particularly loved the Nando’s joke and she could not stop laughing for about 5 minutes, I think she may have annoyed some other patrons. I was a bit gutted that his outfits were not as outrageous as last year though, although I still hope we see Dicky next year for his 17^th year at NTR panto. The production is very professional and it honestly reflects some of the amazing touring musical productions I have seen throughout the year. The production has a western and country theme running through it which was fabulous. With a Dolly Parton themed introduction to the story and some country cheesy music alongside tributes to Oklahoma! And Guys and Dolls musicals I was in my element, so thank you for whoever decided to use these songs (musical director and arranger was David Carter).

The cast of the panto are fantastic; they all gel so well together on stage. The famous ballet dancer Wayne Sleep also stars in this production as the panto villain. He was ace as this character and reminded me of Beverley Leslie in the Will and Grace series, playing a slightly camp villain, which is not a bad thing. I loved the fact he did some dancing throughout the show and a good tap dance at the end. I absolutely loved Dolly the Fairy (guess who she was based upon) played by Harriet Bunton. Bunton had a great country accent and her singing voice was lovely, I would actually like to hear her sing the 9 to 5 song with the real words. The heart throb from last year’s panto, David Burilin, returned again this year as titled character Jack, playing the role very well. David Gant is there playing the Sheriff. Ben Langley has returned to play the ‘fool’ (I am not sure of the professional term J) in this year’s performance in the role of Silly Billy, Jack’s brother. Langley is fantastic in the show, he has a fantastic comedic stage presence and his relationship with Gauntlett on stage is priceless to watch. He interacts perfectly with the audience members of all ages. The funniest part was at the end when some children from the audience were invited up to sing old McDonald Farm. It was so funny, I can’t actually explain how much I was laughing, I think the horse noise will make me laugh for many weeks to come.  I have to say the set of panto babes from the Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts were hilarious, especially the little one who plays the little yellow chick – she was actually amazing. I am not sure which set we saw (blue, orange or red), but they were fantastic, and they all deserve a round of applause.

The effects in the performance are brilliant. The working waterfall on stage last year was fantastic but the giant this year is amazing. I was wondering before the show how the giant would be portrayed on stage and how the beanstalk would grow. It really was great and who knew inflatables aren’t just for bouncing on or floating on. The giant comes to life and the audience sets eyes on a talking, blinking giant. One girl was crying in the interval, but I have to say I think the majority of children will not find him too scary. Kirsteen Wythe has created the costumes again this year. The curtain call (wedding) outfits for the whole cast were gorgeous.  The sparkles, glitter, colours and elegance were beautiful to see. Some of the Dame’s costumes were high-class but I did not think they had the same pizazz as last year. The scenery was amazing as I have said before it really does resemble some of the amazing touring musical productions from this year, on occasions surpassing them by a lot, congratulations goes to Scenic Pantomimes from Lowestoft.

The Norwich Theatre Royal’s panto of Jack and the Beanstalk is a fantastic and professional show and is definitely worth watching this festive period. You will be guaranteed all the usual aspects of a panto that make them so much fun as well as fantastic happy feeling as you leave once the show has come to its end. The whole family, whether you are 2 or 92, will enjoy the show, there is something in this production for all, you are bound to enjoy. The show runs from now until Sunday 15^th January 2017. There are countless of performances from now until the end of the run and it is best to visit the website, just click on the link above. As can be predicted the showings during December are either sold out or limited availability with more ticket options available for the January showings, so hurry up and get yours. I am now getting ready and excited for next year’s panto which will be Sleeping Beauty, I believe tickets are available already for next year and there is a discount on the good seats if you pay by February 2017. I have some more posts to write but if you don’t read them I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and all the best for 2017, please get in touch @AaronBurgess89.