Children cheering, shouting and booing coupled with lashings of slapstick comedy can mean only one thing – the panto is back in town (oh yes it is!).
This year the Wyvern crowds are being served up the classic story of Sleeping Beauty, BUT – if you think you know the well-loved tale – think again!
This enchanting tale translated into a fantastic pantomime written, directed and performed in by Chris Jarvis, filled with endless one liners and innuendo’s, beautiful singing (well done Princess), and some hilarious comedic moments. You were never able to predict what was coming next – part of the charm of panto.
After being cursed at birth by the Evil Fairy Carabosse (Michelle Collins) – who oozed evil throughout, even when she was being nice, Princess Rose (Erin Bell) pricks her finger on the only spinning wheel left in the kingdom, The King (Andrew Whitehead) had all the others burned to try and stop the curse from coming true.
Falling asleep for a hundred years – it could have been worse, if it was not for the interception of the poetic Fairy Flora, (Julie Yammanee) it would have been death – with the only hope the Princess has of waking from her deep sleep being the promise of a kiss from a prince (Julian Quijano).
CBeebies Chris Jarvis gives a warming performance as Happy Harry and is well received by the children and parents alike as he walks us through the panto and alongside Nanny Nutkins and The King gives a great rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas – leading the audience into a laughter-filled sing-a-long, howling and roaring along with the stupidity being played out on stage with the good old “they’re behind you” trumpeting around the auditorium.
Matthew Rixon was the brilliant panto dame Nanny Nutkins, whose jokes are almost as outrageous as her outfits.
Strutting around the stage, Rixon gives a cracking performance with constant witty jokes. But be warned, if you’re sat in the front few rows you could be at the subject of a few of baby Princess’s mishaps!
The performance by the whole cast was sleek and polished, well as much as you want a panto to be polished, but the real magic behind the show was the ability of the whole cast to feed off and respond to the energy given off by the audience.
At times it felt like we were part of the cast!
The show is hilarious throughout but really comes into its own in the second half, is full of energy and chaos, and will definitely put a smile on your face this Christmas season and if you are not walking out of the Wyvern feeling H-A-P-P-Y then you may want to find yourself a spinning wheel and take a long sleep!
Don’t miss out on the magic of Sleeping Beauty by booking your tickets at the Box Office on 01793 524 481 or at the Wyvern Theatre website.
