MOTHER GOOSE PANTOMIME AT THE ARTS THEATRE
Gemma Sutton as Jack Purchase
Priscilla the Goose Georgia Nicholson with amazing ensemble
Dazzling performances make this year’s Mother Goose pantomime a super show for all ages. From the minimalist but magnificent band in the orchestra pit – guitarist Alex Ward with Stan White on Bass and Steve Hynes managed the percussion with panache throughout: Mother Goose majors on professionalism although how this musical ensemble manages so many wonderful numbers is a miracle.
Matt Crosby as Gertie Goose
Everyone had a superb voice. Charlotte Wakefield -Fairy Virtue- can really belt out those big numbers One Moment in Time was super charged rock -if even if Charlotte looked as demure as an old -fashioned fairy should. Predictably the Devil has the best Tunes as the saying has it, and Demon Vanity played by Pippa Duffy steals the stage in any scene. Her poisonous villain is a departure from Wizards and Wicked Genies of yesteryear. Martin, a veteran panto-goer since he first came to the Arts with his lovely Granny, still yearned for a big scary bloke in the role “I can remember hiding from the huge frightening baddie back then” he told me in the interval. He thought Demon Vanity was too nice. But Pippa Duffy’s Devil is both fun and fiendish – and with her horned headdress looks quite a character to tangle with. And she is a brilliant singer.
Alicia Belgrade and dancers
Jill Goose played by Alicia Belgarde made a winsome female lead - a characterful range of moods made her a convincing exasperated daughter to the outrageous Mother Goose and partnered with lovely Jack Purchase played by Gemma Sutton, they won all hearts by the end of the action. Nathan Taylor’s Squire Purchase was a brilliant addition to the ensemble. Never altogether villainous as an unscrupulous landlord, he was too cheerful, he made a great impact with his outstanding sonorous voice and hugely animated acting. Top marks for the Cambridge- themed Twelve Days of Christmas, even though he mikes failed him at times he kept cheerfully singing on. As the strangely introduced King of Gooseland Nathan was improbably convincing. What this court room scene at the end of the show was all about is anyone’s guess, but he made it fun with the flighty and fun Priscilla the Goose on trial . Played wonderfully by Georgina Nicholson wearing the Costume of the Show, a dream in a flurry of feathers, a totally fabulous avian fantasy, was both super sexy and sweetly goose-like in every scene.
Matt Crosby was a delightful dame in the vain and adventurous Mother Goose and even if it wasn’t clear what was going on, every scene was a triumph. The brilliant moment when Mother Goose succumbs to the temptation of Demon Vanity and appears transformed from her dowdy quotidian self into a Tina Turner style super star, was laugh out loud fabulous.
She’s got it” was never so well done. Singing, quipping, lines spontaneously produced from nowhere, Matt is the heart and soul of Panto.
But Steven Roberts as Sammy Goose did make a wonderful job of his part as the hapless and saddened son of egomaniac Gertie. He is the character who will make this pantomime special for all the children who will fall for his quiet charm – and energetic slapstick. Well done for an exhausting performance done with sustained brio.
A great production from every single contributor, the Ensemble dancers Danielle Cato, Olivier Imeson, Sophie Karaolis Sarah Jane Lowe, Louis Parkins and Luke Stone should take a Pantomime Oscar for wonderful dance, I liked the scope from happy village people to sleazy downtown sex bombs, they did it all to the highest level of terpsichorean precision!
This super pantomime was all great, music too loud for my ears and the script does need a glance over from an old Panto hand to inject a bit more sophistication – and better jokes, but that is to cavil when the production was a joyous affair.
Mother Goose continues through Christmas .
