REVIEW: Sleeping Beauty at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
The date has been booked for weeks now and nothing could get in the way of opening night of Sleeping Beauty, this years offering of pantomime at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham.
Quite literally a magical performance with a superb cast led by the hilarious 'Tweedy the Clown' and his counterpart 'Nanny Nice Hands' (aka William Elliot). These two have turned into a panto match made in heaven. A particular favourite scene was the magic show performed by Tweedy and his rather stunning assistant. We see the return of Tweedy's pet 'Keef the iron', and this year seems to have developed a mind of his own - an iron with attitude!
The cast and dancers are excellent, as always. Familiar faces include Wendy Abrahams (of Theo and Wendy) as the good fairy and Kelli Maybank returns to Cheltenham as Prince Percival.
Once again the professionalism of the production was second to none with spectacular scenery, outrageous and colourful costumes. (We loved the figure-hugging costumes adorned by Nanny Nice Hands in particular!) and a fabulous musical score including a song from Disney’s Frozen which the girls loved, for the adults it had to be Time Warp from the Rocky Horror Show.
Praise should also be given to the backstage crew who engineered a show that flowed beautifully. Sleeping Beauty has all the ingredients you should expect from a great entertaining family panto. Slapstick comedy had children giggling uncontrollably and also the adults, with innuendos and double entendres.
It proved to be a wonderful evening of entertainment and the hard work that has gone into it certainly shows. The Everyman panto never fails to please.
Sleeping Beauty runs until Sunday 11 January. We would recommend that you book your tickets now, as we know that this will be a record-breaking year.
Explore Gloucestershire
28 November 2014
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