You Won't Sleep Through This Beauty
Sleeping Beauty directed by Steve Bingham at The Priory Theatre, Kenilworth, running from 18 December 2024 – 5 January 2025. Relaxed performance 2.30pm, Friday 3 January 2025.
Review by Ann Evans
Call me brave or foolhardy but is it wise to be sitting in the very front row of the auditorium when you’re a critic writing a review of what’s happening not a metre away! Those buckets of sloppy foam in the slapstick scene were just a bit too close for comfort, and the mischievous ‘Dame’ alias Paul Sully as Queen Doreen and her sidekick Chester the Jester – alias Owen Prosser-Stock were trigger happy with those foam guns!
But was it funny! Oh yes it was. I can honestly say the slapstick scene in the Priory’s Sleeping Beauty is the funniest I’ve seen/lived through so far – and there have been quite a few!
This duo were absolute treasures – a great performance by Paul Sully who was making his debut performance at The Priory but is a seasoned actor at The Talisman Theatre where he’s played everything from dashing dandies to hapless husbands and everything in between. A witty, slightly saucy script with a few hilarious ad libs thrown in which the audience loved.
Owen Prosser-Stock as Chester the Jester. Photo courtesy of The Priory Theatre.
Owen Prosser-Stock as Chester the Jester is a familiar character on the Priory stage having played many sidekick roles. As Chester he was adorable with his Scooby-Do type voice, his Norman Wisdom style actions with a fair bit of James Bond action thrown in for good measure. A great performance by him.
Princess Beauty was well cast in the role. Just 16 years old, still at school and studying performing arts with a number of starring roles already under her belt. She thrilled the audience with her powerful singing and her delightful stage presence.
Linzi Mills played Prince Frederick of Fillongley – a traditional thigh-slapping prince who has been dancing and singing in pantomimes since she was 7-years-old. This was just her second principal role and produced a confident and stylish performance as she tried to win the princesses love. No spoilers, but hats off to the creative who put a bit of a twist on the usual story ending!
And then we come to the battle between good and evil. Again perfectly cast, we have Louise Woodward as Fairy Forty Winks. Another seasoned performer and former member of YOG, who was a delight as the good fairy – who's not afraid to stand up to the evil villain of the show, Carabosse. Great to see and hear this pair in a duet together.
Sharon Sully – yes, wife of Paul Sully – our Queen Doreen, made for a stunning baddie with her devil’s horned headgear and slinky outfit. Brilliant make-up and fantastic acting by her as she played the evil Carabosse.
Her sidekick was Corona played by Elle Shaw who was back treading the boards at The Priory after a ten-year break. Before this she was in the Priory Youth Theatre. This was her first role as an adult and brought Corona to life as the perfect sidekick to Carabosse.
A mention also to the Dance Captain, Ellie Northover who was in her first panto ever. The show had two teams of fabulous young chorus line singers and dancers – Team Chester and Team Beauty – in all 26 budding performers who didn’t put a foot wrong.
Costumes incidentally were beautiful, well done all the backstage crew – the designers, set builders, lighting and sound technicians who were right on cue with sound effects, music and pyrotechnics. And of course, all the front of house volunteers who take excellent care of the visiting public.
So a fantastic traditional panto, full of fun and laughter, brilliant singing and dancing, lots of audience participation – well done Tom last night who was picked out of the audience by Queen Doreen and proved to be a very good sport! There was everything in fact that a good Panto needs - and more!
And did I survive being in critic in a front row seat – yes! I even got a personalised Happy Birthday rendition by Queen Doreen and Chester the Jester plus a bag of sweets!!
Tickets and more information from: https://www.priorytheatre.co.uk/
Comentarios