Nothing tired about Sleeping Beauty...
“PANTOMIME?” exclaimed my friends when I mentioned my assignment, as if it was a crime.
I had a job to do but must admit I wondered how much enjoyment there would be as I arrived to review Loughborough College’s Sleeping Beauty – but my scepticism was blown completely away by this outstanding student performance. The panto managed to perfectly deliver tradition with a twist.
Prince Charming was replaced with Flash Gordon and it was an update which I and, judging by the loud cheers always greeting the actor, the audience wholeheartedly approved of. Queen Dizzy Lizzy was throwing a birthday party for her two children Cuthbert and Francesca for their forthcoming 18th birthday but evil Frostbite will kill one of the children if they leave the castle.
Frostbite discovers a secret entrance that Francesca has been using to escape the castle and takes advantage of it to put a curse on Francesca that makes her sleep for 1,000 years. Luckily Sunshine fairy ensures everyone goes to sleep and it is a kiss from Francesca’s true love which wakes her. Even Frostbite manages to find love and forget his evil ways in the end and ‘they all lived happily ever after’.
The vast array of music throughout included ‘Ice Ice Baby’, with a dastardly twist at the end that accompanied Frostbite, and lively rock’n’roll announced Queen Dizzy Lizzy. The accompanying music quickly worked as a cue for cheers and boos from children and adults alike and a whole host of familiar songs encouraged the whole audience to join in and sing along.
The entire show was captivating and maintained a fantastic level of humour - Cuthbert’s puns particularly standing out, with just the correct level of cringe.
Fairy sunshine and Frostbite really made the stage their own but every one of the performing arts student actors was compelling and displayed real skill in encouraging audience participation. Dizzy Lizzy even looked like she was improvising to play up to the audience, who all gleefully joined in.
They were even able to get me, a jaded cynic, to join in with the, “Oh no he isn’ts.” Loughborough College’s Sleeping Beauty was an enthralling watch from start to finish.