Brighton may lack a full scale professional pantomime but Simon Gray’s production fills the gap easily with this family show.
It has traditional pantomime elements combined with innovative tweaks – the familiar ghost scene gets a novel twist; a window routine generates new slapstick and the audience participation song 12 Days of Christmas involves a lot of props and exhausting footwork for Tony Bright (Dame), Grace Riach (Flunkit) and Nathan Potter (Simple Simon).
Their hilarious routine brings the house down.
The hardworking cast interact well with the audience – the enthusiastic reaction of the youngsters is heart warming especially as they gaze in wide eyed wonder at a dancing cow (excellent synchronisation from Edd Berridge & Sophie Collins).
For many this is probably their first taste of the magic of theatre.
The show is full of fun, good singing and Nathan Potter’s lively choreography to a balanced mix of old standards and pop songs.
Ollie Wray & Alice Crossfield provide the love interest whilst Debbie Spellman & Lea Hyde do battle as the Good Eco Fairy and Slimeball, the evil baddie.
Lighting Designer, Mike Medway deserves praise for the visual realisation of the Giant (Jamie Hyde) – a tricky piece of technical wizardry.
Four Stars
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