SLEEPING BEAUTY | BEACON ARTS CENTRE, GREENOCK
★★★★
“Cracking, fun for all the family…”
Jubilant, raucous, and unabashedly child friendly, Beacon Arts Centre can always be relied on to produce one of Scotland’s most fun pantos, powered by it’s three stars turns – Still Game’ favourites Jane McCarry and Mark Cox with High Road and River City legend Jimmy Chisholm.
This year’s Sleeping Beauty is no different, and finds Chisholm back as Dame Nellie MacDuff, nursemaid to Princess Aurora, McCarry, channeling the wicked Carabosse, the dead Queen’s evil twin sister who is intent on acceding to the throne, while Cox splits his onstage time between a sympathetically befuddled King Hector and soft-hearted baddie, Slimeball.
Between them, with the help of Lee Samuel’s would be court jester, Muddles MacDuff, and Rachel Flynn’s ghostly Queen Morag, they bring the magical fairy tale to life while always ensuring it speaks to it’s Greenock audience – one routine gives a name check to practically every town, port and village in the area.
Tony Cownie’s direction ensures a fast moving, well-paced production that neither lingers nor rushes, much of which is also down to McCarry, Cox and Chisholm’s shared understanding of the art of pantomime and spot on comic timing.
Musical Director John Kielty too keeps the tempo up with a catchy mix of pop songs and the odd classic. Highlights include buoyant opening number, Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off, the act one finale, which find Flynn in excellent voice for a stunning rendition of When You Believe, from the musical The Prince of Egypt, and a moving performance of Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years, which gives Flynn, Rachael Kendall Brown, as Princess Aurora, and Charlie West, as Prince Angus of Cappielow, a chance to display some engaging harmonies.
And talking of Aurora and her beau, the pair are well matched, with a strong chemistry. Brown, who stepped into her role at the last minute, proves a bold, likeable force of nature as the down to earth Princess.
Comically, Chisholm and Samuel are a consummate double act, with the former once again proving one of the most maternal dames around, despite that, there’s also a laugh out loud Viagra gag that only he could get away in pantoland. Elsewhere, Cox flits between turns as King Hector and Slimeball with always a knowing glint in his eye. McCarry, meanwhile, pitches her Carabosse perfectly creating a baddie that can be laughed at, softening her threat.
A panto full of heart, a touching moment between King Hector and his ghostly wife, and a heart-achingly tender mother/daughter exchange between Aurora and her spirit mother inject unexpected emotion into proceedings.
Add a dash of anarchy, a measure of pure absurdism – Chisholm as Wonder Woman must seen to be believed – and throw in some impromptu communal singing, the kids reaction to Lava Chicken leads to a full on sing-a-long midway through act one and I’m Gonna Be (500 miles), delivered by Prince Angus, also sparks some crowd-pleasing joining in, and you have the perfect mix for two and a bit hours of fun.
And let’s not forget the smiliest ensemble around, Sean Van Oostrum, Mark D’Arcy, Katie Auld and Isla McAlpine delivering Ross Logan fluid choreography. The only bigger smiles to be found at The Beacon are those on the faces of the audience as they leave this cracking family production with something for everyone.
Run ends 31 December Tickets HERE
Having attended all the pantomimes with my family since they started at the Beacon I would say this was the best yet. Jokes and gags up to date and cleverly scripted. The signs with references to local names was clever and brilliant. Well done and see you all next year all being well