SNOW WHITE, Palace Theatre Newark till 6 January

Newark.

SNOW WHITE.
Palace Theatre Newark To 6 January 2008.
10am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.00pm various days. no performance 25, 31 Dec, 1 Jan.
Runs 2hr 20min One interval.

TICKETS: 01636 655755
www.palacenewark.com.
Review: Alan Geary: 14 December 2007.

Well-worn gags but cracking Christmas fare.
If you insist on spanking-new jokes at every panto this one will disappoint. These gags are being trundled to and fro between Mansfield, Nottingham and Newark in an old wheelbarrow. But in the trusty hands of Andrew Lynford’s Muddles they’re funny. Lynford uses the cheeky chappy school of comedy and an easy rapport with children and adults to garner a lot of laughs.

It’s a tight, unselfish script, which plays to the individual strengths and accomplishments of the performers. The show has less of an Edwardian feel than some previous Newark pantomimes; even the plugging of a well-known High Street chain store is done so shamelessly and with tongue so obviously in cheek it’s funny.

Dolly Dumpling (Steve Barclay complete with ukulele which he takes out of a pram), again very funny, is smaller and less raucous than a lot of dames and goes down a treat. So does Herman the Henchman (Alex Poulter); crouching and grovelling like a deformed hoody, and carrying a whip, he’s so incompetent he’s really a pussy-cat. He also does fire-juggling, uni-cycling and some excellent break-dancing.

And there’s a super bit of high acrobatics from Victoria McManus, as the Woodland Fairy

Queen Helga (Kim Hartman out of ‘Allo ‘Allo and Grange Hill), a splendid actor, is simultaneously evil and sexy. In fact, the show’s packed with leggy glamour; the dance routines from The Tozer Studios are outstanding, particularly one done to a background of music from Carmina Burana. Wearing headgear, children from Tozer also do the Dwarfs - and they’re very good.

Vicki Davids’ Snow White, dark-haired sweet and lovely, has a strong singing voice in solos, as well as in duets with Richard Woodman’s Prince Richard.

This is cracking Christmas fare.

Queen Helga: Kim Hartman.
Spirit of the Mirror: Miles Anthony.
Woodland Fairy.: Victoria McManus.
Prince Richard: Richard Woodman.
Herman the Henchman: Alex Poulter.
Dame Dolly Dumpling: Steve Barclay.
Muddles: Andrew Lynford.
Snow White: Vicki Davids.
Townsfolk, Courtiers, Sprites, Animals and the Seven Dwarfs: The Tozer Studios.

Director: Andrew Lynford.
Designer: Stephen Wilson.
Musical Director: Matt Marks.
Choreographer: Mitch Rumin.
Costume: Eve Wilkinson.

2007-12-17 01:13:42