THE SNOW QUEEN

Galleywood Theatre Group at the Church of St Michael and All Angels

22.01.11

A world première Panto, and the first I've seen in a church [though our medieval forebears would have thought nothing of bawdy knockabout drama in the aisles]. 
St Michael and All Angels were joint sponsors of The Snow Queen, together with Naked Flame Candles. Mr Simm's Olde Sweet Shoppe benefited from prominent product placement too – confectionery was central to the show, with the Dame [a lively Beverley Eary] in a natty Allsorts apron presiding over her Kingdom of Sweets.

Another experienced performer was Annette Michaels as the evil title character, cackling away in her green gloves and green wig. An unusual character for pantomime was “sophisticated and slightly foreign” René, played with some style and a wonderful accent by Paula Rayner. Stevie Gill and Caroline Fernandez worked hard as Ig and Lou, with two duets and lots of banter.

But there was promising work from the youngsters, too, with a neat chorus ensemble [The Candyman]. And if the young lovers [Charlie Kinsman and Harri-Nicole Kinsman] struggled to put over the dialogue in this unfriendly acoustic, their singing was attractive [a nice Lion King duet].

Debbi Flack directed, with Jo Cocklin in charge of the music.

This is the first major production from a new group – their next venture, appropriately enough, will be The Vicar of Dibley in April.