“Writer: Daniel Bell
Director: Katherine Hickmott
KD Theatre Productions’ Sleeping Beauty is a panto oozing with cheeky charm which goes beyond expectations with some delightful dancing snowmen, a Trhfriendly dragon and cuddly monsters, all thrown in with some mind-boggling magic tricks, making you wish for a Southport ever after!
Sleeping Beauty is an enchanting blend of classic panto magic, with quick-witted hilarity, and plenty of charisma, creating some memorable and magical moments. Daniel Bell’s script is full of laugh-out-loud moments, a feast of funnies, and silliness in abundance, which keeps the energy high, on and off stage. Cultural and local references, such as the town’s closed pier, pepper the script, weaved through this classic tale of Sleeping Beauty.
The strong ensemble cast is undoubtedly one of the production’s standout elements, with plenty of ad-libs, and banter which shows comfort with the crowd. The ability to gently manoeuvre a shy audience into a booming one is a skill: this company accomplishes it with ease. There’s great chemistry between the actors, who possess natural funny bones, particularly in the scenes involving James Stirling’s animated King Cole, Terry Burns, who sparkles both as the Spirit of Southport and Nurse Nora, and the popular social media magician, Joel M, as Presto. Their impeccable comic timing and slapstick moments, including a hilarious ice cream mishap, elevate the show, ensuring plenty of laughs throughout.
Burns’ costume changes as Nurse Nora are particularly inventive, drawing laughs with every new appearance, and his ability to switch effortlessly between characters adds an extra layer of fun to the performance. Similarly, Stirling’s King Cole is brimming with energy, with ad-libbed lines and physical comedy that elevate this larger-than-life character.
Coral Mourant delivers a wonderfully wicked performance as the evil Carabosse, capturing all the menace and theatricality expected of the villain. Her portrayal provides a nice contrast to the lightheartedness of the other characters, and her wicked spinning wheel scheme to capture our young Princess Aurora (delightfully portrayed by Samantha Richards) conjures up plenty of boos from the audience.
Exauce Yagi’s dashing Prince Lancelot (of Lytham St Annes), catches Aurora’s eye with his fancy dance moves until she enters her century-long slumber, which is marked by the audience joining in a fun rendition of the Time Warp — one of many interactive moments that invite the audience to sing and dance along. It’s this engagement with the audience that makes the show truly come alive, with everyone from the youngest to the oldest fully immersed in helping to sprinkle the panto magic.
The creative team does an excellent job of producing a whimsical winter wonderland, transporting us to a magical kingdom with strong inventive choices in set design, costumes, and lighting. The brilliant live band adds to the enchantment, providing a beautiful musical backdrop that complements the action on stage. Despite some brief moments where the vocals were slightly drowned out by the band early on on this occasion, the issue seemed to resolve itself, and the live music remained a lovely addition to the show’s overall atmosphere.
KD Theatre Productions has delivered on its promise to create the ‘dreamiest panto of them all.’ Whether you’re a seasoned panto-goer or a newbie, you’re sure to leave you with a big smile on your face.
⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 stars, magical family panto!”
This review is copied from The Reviews Hub.
Written by Gill Lewis.
Thank you The Reviews Hub.