An exciting pantomime reimagining of the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty is thrilling audiences at Ipswich's New Wolsey Theatre.
The New Wolsey's Chief Executive Douglas Rintoul has built upon last year's Rock 'n' Roll pantomime directing debut to create a real winner.
For her second New Wolsey panto, the accomplished writer and comedian Vikki Stone selected more of a 'Pop 'n' Rock' song list rather than a classic Rock 'n' Roll musical show. This has resulted in two hours filled with wonderful numbers from the past six decades.
Introducing themselves, double-dames kindly Auntie Rosie (Craig Anderson) and prickly evil Thornica (Max Gallagher) burst onto the stage to get the show going by belting out Pink's banger Get The Party Started – an inspired song selection to immediately excite the audience.
The fun continued with Milo (Laura Gómez Gracia), a hugely entertaining but not at all fearsome fire-breathing dragon. Laura has created a cheekily engaging character by combining her stand-up comedy gifts and water-squirter sharpshooting skills. Laura won me over, but I was pleased to be seated beyond her firing range.
The heroine Princess Aurora (Mya Fox-Scott) embodied a combination of spirit and demureness personified: a delightfully charming young actor. However, it was her dynamic delivery of Katy Perry's Roar that really caught everyone's attention - nothing short of sensational.
Prince Toby (Alexander Zane) gave some laugh-out-loud wit and clowning. Zane by name and Zane(y) by nature, he was greatly entertaining as the love interest of the Princess. Complementing each other, they made an appealing panto couple.
My particular favourite number was the ensemble's song 'n' dance rendition of The Time Warp from the 1970s hit musical The Rocky Horror Show – great stuff, guys. But it would be unfair to spoil the fun for future showgoers by listing the loads of other songs performed by the multi-talented cast of actor/singer/musicians. Listen out for favourites by Donna Summer, The Monkees, Beyoncé, and many, many more.
Space precludes me from describing other roles, but I feel compelled to name-check all the multi-talented cast who put their hearts into performing their various characters – Burhan Kathawala, Signe Larsson, Meg Narongchai, with Emily Pickett making her professional debut: well done her.
Last but not least, congratulations to all the talented lighting, sound, music, choreography and design 'creatives', and the production team who came together to make it all possible.
Although it was a full house on my visit to the ever warm and welcoming New Wolsey Theatre, tickets are still available for the show that runs until Saturday 18th January. They can be purchased from the box office, on 01473 295900, or at www.wolseytheatre.co.uk
The theatre offers accessible performances with audio descriptions, British Sign Language Interpretation, captioning, special relaxed/dementia-friendly shows, and wheelchair access.
Touch tours are offered, and some performances are livestreamed.
