We obtained complimentary press tickets to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for the aim of this assessment
The annual pantomime at Cardiff’s New Theatre has lengthy been a festive spotlight for our household. In actual fact, even earlier than we had kids Cardiff Daddy and I have been panto regulars, with him specifically laughing far more than any of the children, and repeating the jokes to anybody who would pay attention for the remainder of the yr.
This yr’s present at Cardiff’s New Theatre is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and as soon as once more, all of us completely liked it. Learn on for our full assessment or head to the Cardiff Mummy Says Instagram channel for a video reel.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on the New Theatre, Cardiff
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on the New Theatre, Cardiff actually is every thing you can need from a pantomime – after which some.
It’s stuffed with viewers involvement from the get-go. We’re up out of our seats dancing, booing and hissing, shouting the classics ‘oh no it isn’t/oh sure it’s’ and ‘he’s behind you’. The kids within the viewers are laughing out loud all through and the adults are at occasions laughing even louder when the jokes edge in direction of the marginally inappropriate and go manner over the kids’ heads.
We’ve the basic story of Snow White (performed by the serene Denquar Chupak, who we liked final yr as Princess Jasmine in Aladdin, and who as soon as once more seems to be each bit the Disney princess) in love together with her good-looking Prince Carwyn of Conwy (Nay-Nay Gapomo – such an completed performer with the type of vocals you’d like to have serenading you, I used to be shocked to learn within the programme notes that he’s nonetheless in his ultimate yr of theatre college coaching). Snow White quickly finds herself hiding out within the woods from the evil queen, who just isn’t completely happy to have been usurped because the fairest within the land. Sian Reeves is Queen Lucretia and he or she is wondrously depraved, lapping up all of the booing and hissing from the group.
We’ve The Magnificent Seven dwarfs performing a few of the basic Disney numbers, plus a magic mirror, a poisoned apple… and a few twists within the basic fairy story that play properly to the trendy viewers.
And interspersed with that, we now have the hilarious skits and sketches we now have come to know and love from the New Theatre’s annual panto providing.
Mike Doyle is as soon as once more our panto dame, Nurse Nancy. That is his 32nd yr in panto – I’ve misplaced monitor of what number of years we’ve seen him on the New Theatre, however he’s as sensible as ever. It’s clear we weren’t the one regulars within the viewers final night time as a result of he doesn’t even want to clarify his catchphrase – wherein he says “Ariiigght” in his finest Cardiff accent and all of us should reply with the identical – earlier than the viewers are shouting it again at him. As soon as once more, Doyle is totally hilarious all through, and wears essentially the most amazingly inventive, vibrant and flamboyant costumes which change with each scene. This man actually is an area treasure and such an asset to Cardiff’s annual panto.
Ian ‘H’ Watkins, finest recognized from the pop band Steps, and legendary Welsh rugby participant Gareth Thomas, aka Alfie, play The Spirit of the Mirror and The Queen’s Henchman, handily referred to as Alfie, respectively. We’ve seen them each in panto beforehand and love the native celeb connections they convey to the present. Each are basically enjoying variations of themselves, with realizing strains written into the script, which the viewers love. Count on just a few musical numbers from the Steps again catalogue and Alfie displaying off his muscular physique.
Including to the humour as this yr’s ‘sidekick’ is Steve Hewlett as Muddles, loyal good friend to Snow White and son of Nurse Nancy. Followers of Britain’s Obtained Expertise will bear in mind Steve and his ventriloquism act from just a few years in the past. Steve is accompanied tonight by Arthur, his cheeky aged gentleman puppet with a love for the native women and an incredible array of 1 liners. Steve is given the possibility to showcase his abilities with solo time on the stage, together with a very hilarious routine involving a good-spirited member of the viewers.
As in earlier pantomimes, in direction of the top of the present we now have a rendition of 12 Days of Christmas which is the very definition of ‘organised chaos’ as bathroom rolls, rugby balls and big leeks fly across the stage, however which is so expertly choreographed you’ll be able to solely think about the rehearsal course of to get all these comedy moments excellent. It’s sensible enjoyable.
Age-wise, my kids are actually 13, 11 and eight and have been attending the New Theatre’s panto since they have been round three or 4, which I’d say is an efficient age for a primary panto journey. Delicate kids may discover a few of the villainous cackling and smoke-effects a bit of on the scary facet, however there’s a lot humour, glitzy units and costumes, and fast-paced musical numbers that they are going to quickly be distracted, plus we discovered explaining that they may boo and hiss on the baddies actually helped them take care of the extra menacing moments. The efficiency is round two and 1 / 4 hours, together with an interval of round 20 minutes.
Sure, it’s all a bit of formulaic however I genuinely don’t imply that in a foul manner. In actual fact, it’s a superb factor. Crossroads Pantomimes, the world’s largest producers of pantomimes, have perfected a successful mixture that works yr in, yr out, offering some absolute comedy gold and large stomach laughs, awe-inspiring particular results (be careful for H on his motorcycle), catchy musical numbers that may have you ever dancing in your seats, and leisure that’s good for all generations.
We liked each minute of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It’s conventional panto at its best; a unbelievable festive deal with for all ages, which we extremely suggest.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at New Theatre, Cardiff, till Sunday 8 January 2023. For extra info and to e book tickets, go to the web site right here.
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