Return to a ‘traditional’ pantomime gets rave review
This review of CTW’s Christmas Pantomime of 2019 – Sleeping Beauty – was added with kind permission of its owner Gloria Milne.
There is nothing like a traditional panto to get you into the Christmas mood!
This is exactly what the Cottenham Theatre Workshop production of Sleeping Beauty did for the enthusiastic audience when we went to see it.
All of the vital ingredients were included …. a beautiful princess, three good fairies and a very bad fairy, a doting royal nanny, a court jester and two amazing comic clowns, and a large supporting cast.
As usual, the team of Actors worked hard to entertain us with great energy.
When Barbara Duckworth is in charge of the music and the choreography is driven by Megan Swann, we know that we are in safe hands. The result was very pleasing indeed… many congratulations!
The costumes coordinated by Wendy Riches, Sue Sherratt and Matt Unwin-Riches were colourful and looked very good.
The childrens’ choirs from Histon Primary School and Tongue Twisters were delightful to hear and watch!
Everyone on the cast worked very well together ……as the three fairies, Nikki Kerss (on a scooter!), Gill Hayden and Mary Garside did everything they could to protect Princess Aurora who was well played by Martha Watson.
I particularly liked Princess Aurora’s song ‘Another Suitcase’ which was delivered beautifully.
Of course, everyone expects a ‘Bad Fairy’ in this panto and Poison Ivy, played by Liz Morris, was evil! By the end of the run, she must have been longing for just a little cheer, rather than the enthusiastic hisses and boos she received! Liz was great!
Nurse Penny Cillin (Chris Field) and Skittles (Mark Nolan) worked well together providing the audience with lots of laughs and good songs.
Queen Rosemary played by Chrissie Kelby was charming, and looked wonderful in her costumes. Her husband, King Basil played by Kerry O’Connell was very regal and Kinglike!
Duck and Dive played by Matt Unwin-Riches and Amy Unwin were fantastic… such teamwork! They were clearly very well-rehearsed as the comedy duo and they lit up the stage every time they appeared.
I could go on, but the cast was too large to mention every individual. However, I must mention the \’ghost\’ which was a tiny part played by Natalia Coe. Her ‘physical theatre/dance’ movements as a ghost were amazing and very effective.
As for everyone else, suffice to say that you all played an important part in the production of a well-rehearsed panto, which everyone must have thoroughly enjoyed.
The technical and backstage support was good and scene changes were slick
As for John Unwin, he was, on this occasion, the Director! He is such an enormous asset to Cottenham Theatre Workshop. His technical skills, set building skills, ideas, acting skills, etc. are amazing. Now, he enjoys directing and has an instinct for knowing what the audience anticipates.
CONGRATULATIONS JOHN and to your entire team, I look forward to your next production!
Gloria Milne