ACT Theatre Reviews 2021-2022

his meaning wrong but this really engaged him with the audience. His easy going portrayal and presence on stage was just right. Jane Naumkin (Queen Apricot) joined him in every scene and would quite often correct his mistakes with an air of boredom and resignation, which is what the writer intended, I think. Panto is a great place for younger actors to get experience of delivering dialogue to an audience. Quite often, these people go on to take the principal roles in later productions. Mia Berge and Emma Griffiths didn’t have much dialogue as Polly Pocket and Lucy Locket but delivered what they had with confidence. As did Tom Hague in his character of Humphrey, the palace chamberlain. Megan Longden and Sophie Foulkes worked well together as the two brokers men, Snatch and Scarper. Most panto’s have a goodie and a baddie that the audience can cheer or boo. Lynsey Cooper rhymed her spells around us with just the right amount of Sugardust while Amanda Rosenberg gave us opportunities to hiss and join in whenever Piccallili entered to stage area. I have seen this writer’s panto a few times this season and Andrei Naumkin’s portrayal of Rancid ranks as one of the best I have seen. His line delivery was superb as was his stage craft. He knew instinctively when to wait for the audience to become quite before continuing and when to encourage reaction. Both of these techniques are hard to judge, especially in a panto. At times there were a lot of people onstage during a scene, this must have been a challenge to the choreographers Steph Evans and Lynsey Cooper but they worked well with the space available. There was some interesting music chosen for the production and played well by band of Sheila Kent, Andrew Burr, James Donnan and Martin Cooke under the musical direction of Rebekah Tomkinson - though I did expect a larger sound from those on stage during the large crowd scenes. From the programme, it is evident that this production is very much one by a community of people, who come together to put on an entertaining production. While those on stage get the applause, those out of sight backstage and front of house also need recognition for their contribution, whether it is selling raffle tickets, organising tickets, chaperoning, co-ordinating costumes, light and sound, making scenery and props, I could go on but please know that your contributions are very much appreciated. It also strikes me that Steph Evans has contributed greatly, not just as one half of the family cow “Buttermilk” with Brittany Miralles but in a number of other roles that brought this panto to life.

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