Sleeping Beauty a holiday delight
Sleeping Beauty Aubyn Live Theatre, formerly Hastings Operatic Society, St Aubyn St, Hastings July 2 to July 7 Reviewed by Keith Russell Take a classic fairytale and give it the pantomime treatment and what do we get? Two hours of the best school holiday entertainment you will find.
Director Karen Kiriona, who herself has been on stage, certainly knows what an audience wants: Singing, dancing, plenty of humour and interaction with the actors.
Gary Ruffell played Queen Bea with energy and passion, dominating all scenes he appeared in. This meant Cathy Hosken as King Bumble had a tough role to play, and by keeping her energy below Ruffles, this was not the best performance I have seen her do.
Samantha Mactaggart’s role as the Good Fairy gave her the opportunity to show her acting skills and she took this with both hands, leading her audience through the madcap story with excellent timing, expression and projection.
All fairytales need a beautiful princess and Becca Hughes as Princess Beauty did a good job as she acted and gave us some nice singing along the way.
Bickering princes, who were suitors for the princess’s hand, were played with enthusiasm by Alisa Laurie and Harrison Keefe. Their performances did much to anchor this production and I am sure a great future on stage awaits these two.
Claudia Karlsson as Woody, the court ‘‘Mr Fixer’’, knows how to work an audience and never let her commitment waver, as well as Olivia Campbell who played the romantic interest.
Daniel Mohi gave a regal performance as The Lord High Chamberlain, but he needed more interaction with his audience. Some clever ad-libbing and he would have had a starring role.
The ensemble, fairies and courtiers who came from a wide age group gave us some excellent singing and their dancing did their choreographer Shona Morrell much credit.
All pantomimes need a wicked witch to cast bad spells and scare the audience and Debbie Sudfelt as Carabosse the evil fairy gave a performance that she should list as one of her best. It was not only her movement, voice control and timing that was spot on, she had some excellent help from her wardrobe, make-up and sound team which produced simple but effective tools for her to use.
Imaginative and magical sets highlight this performance and the lighting and sound was dramatic as well as doing much to set the mood. This pantomime shows what a good production team can do and Kiriona must be well pleased with the result.
A full house watched the opening performance and I am sure this will continue throughout their season.