Fairy tale magic casts a spell at Palace

Colourful costumes, dazzling dance routines and a laser light display are among the highlights of Sleeping Beauty, this year’s pantomime at the Palace Theatre, Newark.

An enthusiastic and energetic cast, led by Vicki Michelle and pianist Bobby Crush, retell this magical fairy tale with plenty of singing, dancing, slapstick and jokes that make you both laugh and groan.

It is the fourth show at the Palace produced by Paul Holman, who likes to mix traditional elements with modern touches.

The panto begins with the words of the story beamed on to the stage, complete with a laser light show.

Vicki Michelle soon enters as the evil fairy, Carabosse, prompting immediate booing and hissing from the audience.

She wears an array of glittering dresses and oozes sex appeal as she tries to kill Princess Aurora by getting her to prick her finger on an old spinning wheel.

Vicki relishes the villainous role as an evil beauty complete with cackling laugh.

She is best known for her role in the BBC sitcom ‘Allo ‘Allo, and there are various reminders of her time as Yvette and those almost growled words: “Oh, Rene.”

No panto is complete without a dame, and Bobby Crush, as Nurse Katie Cough-Drop, lights up the stage in many colourful creations, including a Mr Blobby-style school mistress outfit and a Christmas tree, as he tries to protect Princess Aurora.

He claims to be having a mid-wife crisis and is after a man — Alan on the front row caught his eye on Friday night.

One of the highlights was Bobby’s piano rock ‘n’ roll medley that got the audience clapping along.

Another was when Carabosse puts Katie under a spell to poison the princess with a pellet and they have to remember the rhyme: “The pellet with the poison’s in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true,” and both end up getting it wrong, especially when they throw in a flagon with the dragon.

Carabosse’s evil is also fought by the good Lilac Fairy, the lovely Lauren Adams, who showcases her powerful singing voice, especially when she makes everyone go to sleep for 100 years.

Andrew Haynes bumbles about as the batty King Crumble, and Mike Newman Jnr as the clown-like Muddles has the audience shouting his name each time he comes on.

The pair work well together in a slapstick wallpapering scene, getting paste everywhere, except the wall.

Mike gains many of the laughs, particularly from the children when he comes on stage as a sumo wrestler and says he is Fat Panda.

He has the audience diving for cover (I won’t reveal why) and challenges three youngsters to tackle tongue-twisters, with one poor boy having trouble with: “One smart fella, he felt smart.”

Jane Augustine is as pretty as a picture as Princess Aurora and has a lovely singing voice, while Drew Millar is a rather arrogant and conceited Prince Robin determined to get the girl of his dreams.

He has to battle laser thorns and laser dragons to rescue Princess Aurora and make her his bride.

Young dancers from The Tozer Studios, Southwell, impressed with their routines, choreographed by Mitch Rumin, especially in Colour My World from Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert, An Apple For The Teacher, Baggy Trousers, and Don’t Stop Believing from Glee.

Director Peter Dayson keeps the action at a fast pace, with upbeat music by musical director Laurence Knight and percussionist Steve Farmer.

Sponsored by the Advertiser, Boundary Sound and Waitrose, this delightful family pantomime can be seen until January 3. — DB.