Review: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, The Hexagon
Justin Fletcher and Paul Morse have been working together in pantomime in Reading for ten years and their partnership shapes the shows that Fletcher writes for a young audience in the town. The focus is on the storytelling and ensures that the comedy business flows from the narrative and is then integrated into the action, together with high musical content that satisfies all of the age groups in the audience. It gives the show a unique feel compared to many others, and this is enhanced by the latest Imagine digital set, which adds bright colours and animation to every scene.
This year it is Beauty and the Beast that gets the Fletcher treatment and he ensures we get the whole enchanting story from the Enchantress (Eloise Lord) turning the Prince (Samuel Knight) into a Beast, Belle’s (Samantha Dorrance) rejection of Hunky Dory (Carl Tracey), Belle being sent to the castle by her Mother (Ally Cox) and dining with the Beast and then Hunky’s attack on him. Of course, none of that involves the Dame and her son but these two characters are weaved into the narrative so the comedy routines can be added. Paul Morse is once again, the excellent Dame Nanny Pint and Fletcher, her cheerful son, Arthur Pint, and together they run the tavern in Wibbly Bottom, Just Inn. They even manage to include the 6-7 meme, which is so popular with kids.
It is enough to set up so many of the essential comedy routines of a good pantomime. After an excellent Dame opening chat which engages the audience and sets the tone offering all a “Nanny Cuddle”, Arthur delivers a musical lip sync pun run featuring drinks, savoury snacks and nuts, which is fresh and silly. They clean the Inn in their usual traditional chaotic slosh scene with plenty of foam. In the second act, back by popular demand, is their brilliant Balloon Ballet, a spoof Traitors set up (complete with Claudia, Alan and Celia) for the Ghost bench scene and, of course, a tight and precise ‘If I Were Not Upon the Stage’ routine. They are all delivered with care and discipline, delighting the audience. Despite our familiarity with the routines, they all feel fresh and fun.
The music selection is good with everyone having a moment at the microphone with a strong opening to Act 1 of ‘Oh, What a Feeling’ and ‘I’ll Be There for You’ and Act 2 starting with an open mic session at the Inn featuring ‘Oom Pah Pah’, ‘Uptown Funk’, ‘Don’t Stop the Music’, ‘Sex Bomb’ and ‘The One and Only’. Each is delivered well with attractive choreography from Honor O’Neill that features both the junior and main Ensemble.
The digital set looks very good with animated transitions between scenes from Wibbly Bottom to the Castle in the wood, paintings that come alive and a large, animated rose with petals that drop. Together with some good quality costumes including the Dame’s sweet-flavoured dresses, they create a very attractive looking show. Occasionally, we miss the traditional front cloth scenes as the transitions take too long to on the digital screens and there is a lack of localisation to Berkshire, and very sadly no kids songsheet.
The combination of Fletcher’s well-judged script, Steve Boden’s careful direction which brings the show in at two hours plus interval, and two stars in Fletcher and Morse who make pantomime look so effortless and charming, Reading once again delivers a pantomime that is a perfect family festive outing to the theatre and a wonderful first time show for young children.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Nick Wayne