Review: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, New Wolsey Theatre (Livestream)
Photo credit: Will Green Photography
The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich won the UK Pantomime Awards Best Pantomime (Digital) in 2022 for its Rock ‘n’ Roll pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk, and has made this year’s pantomime, Beauty and Beast, available again on Vimeo . It follows the same established format of actor-musicians on the intimate New Wolsey stage with a Rock ‘n’ Roll band, formed by off-stage actors on raised platforms behind. The focus is on a succession of great songs played live to create a concert feel rather than a traditional pantomime. The songs are linked by a loose theme provided by the title. It creates a distinctive style and lively fun evening.
This year’s linking narrative, written by Vikki Stone, is loosely based on the classic Beauty and The Beast tale, although given a very fresh modern feel by making Belle a podcaster on the Mysteries of Ipswich and accompanying her with a pigeon who poops on the members of the front row of the audience. Belle’s mother Mrs Ringer runs a bar where quite a lot of the narrative is based. The Beast is locked behind a mysterious 1000-year-old door throughout most of the first act until Belle seeks to explore the location for her podcast and then follows the usual story of her melting his gruff egotistical exterior by her developing love for him. The stripped back storytelling does have the feel and simplicity of children’s entertainment.
The bar setting becomes the location for a rather difficult to follow drinks-based pun run and an audience participation game of musical chairs (borrowed from the Chuckle Brothers own pantomime routine) as well as the usual shout outs to the audience and those watching online, all of which helps create the sense of pantomime.
Signe Larsson is a very enchanting Snarlina making her entrances smoothly through a trap door in the stage. Neil Urquhart is more cuddly teddy bear than fearsome Beast with only the horns to give him an edge. Eloise Richardson amuses herself as Pigeon, squirting foam between her legs onto the front row! Nis Raza Hamilton is the trendy podcaster Belle who transforms into the Beast’s saviour. The show belongs to Max Gallagher, however, who returns to the venue as the Dame, Mrs Ringer, who dominates each scene as she struts about the stage, engaging the audience with every glance and leading the comedy moments.
But it is the music that defines the production. Starting with ‘I Gotta Feeling’ from the Prince, ‘9 to 5’ by Belle, and then together ‘I’m So Excited’. They reword ‘Dead Ringer for Love’ neatly as Belle Ringer before the Enchantress gives the more recent ‘APT’ and Belle closes the first act with ‘Chandelier’. Act 2 starts with Mrs Ringer delivering a lively ‘Cotton Eyed Joe’, the Beast singing ‘Creep’, the Enchantress sings ‘Maniac’, and Jacques ‘True Colours’. They end with a celebratory sing along of ‘I Believe in a Thing called Love’, ‘Dancing on the Ceiling’, and ‘Love Train’. It is an impressive musical list all played with great gusto by the Ensemble.
The livestream is a risk, and, on this occasion, Myles Miller had to be replaced due to illness by Leo Elso as Jacque Le Plop and the Beast’s microphone failed during the dinner in the castle scene, so we had to rely on a weak general effect microphone for his words. But that, at least, gives the viewing audience that strong sense of a live experience.
If you can’t get along to a pantomime this Christmas, the stream brings the musical party into your home with an excellent selection of tunes, all very well played, and will bring a smile to your face as you enjoy the performance.
*** Three stars
Reviewed by: Nick Wayne