Posted 02 February, 2010

But there won’t be another version that boasts the now familiar Sopwith the pantomime Camel strutting his stuff at ‘The Ugly Bug Ball’. 

That was just one of the highlights to greet the enthusiastic audience last Saturday night at the Paramount Theatre. 

Brought to the stage by Penistone Theatre Group, ably directed by Will Bisby and Cadi Fowler, the story follows the fortunes of good-natured Tom the Miller, played by Donna Williamson, from a real family of millers, conned out of his inheritance by his two good-for-nothing brothers Windy and Dusty, with plenty of laughs being provided by Michael Cutts and Alex Needham, with only the mill cat, Puss, to show for his trouble. 

However, in true pantomime fashion, Puss, given a commanding performance here by Sian Fowler, proves to be a fantastic help in gaining power, wealth and the hand in marriage of lovely Princess Juliet, portrayed by Alex Quinn, for his master and when the Good Fairy Liquid, Tabi Raynor as a slightly off-beat sprite, undoes the spell cast on him by the Wicked Ogre scarily voiced by Phil Vickers, he manages to secure for himself the hand of the equally lovely Princess Rosamund (Lauren Bickerdike) for a happy-ever-after ending.

From the outset the sparkling costumes and smiling faces of the Chorus took us straight into the story, and the entrance of Nurse Edna Crutch, a true pantomime Dame, played superbly by Chris Walker, got the audience going with local jokes and laughter, a lot of it directed at her boyfriend Seamus the Woodcutter, a great supporting performance by Stephen Proctor. 

This pantomime showed the strength of the group – experienced performers such as David Armitage and Cadi Fowler, especially the loveable King Alfred and Queen Ann’s rendition of ‘I Don’t feel Like Dancing’ was a joy and Jeremy Cutts in a cameo Rocky Horror Shop role for ‘Let’s Do The Time Warp’ which got the audience up dancing – all working alongside very talented young additions including a brilliant duet between Tom and Juliet singing ‘Rule the World’ and a fantastic version of ‘You Say It Best’ from Rosamund with very clear respect for each other, which was great to see.

And not forgetting those behind the scenes too numerous to mention. The sets were marvellous, the props, make-up and costumes were all brilliant, the singing and dancing second-to-none.