The inventive staff behind this yr’s Newbury Corn Exchange Pantomime, as they’ve been for the final 4 years are Clare Plested, Adam Brown, and Amanda Wilsher (who additionally directs) and so they had a transparent idea underpinning this yr’s present following final yr’s success. The entire present is constructed across the musical selections of Musical Supervisor Dai Watts and performed by the MD Josh Cottell and drummer Alun Watson and the skinny plot is used merely to hyperlink the person routines. It makes for a musical celebration and a celebration environment that’s enjoyable and pleasing however lacks a few of the conventional laugh-out-loud moments and spectacle of Pantomime.
We have the 1980 hit “9 to 5” introducing the Dame (Justin Brett) adopted by “You’ve got a friend in me” sung by Fleshcreep and the 2006 Sister Act track “Fabulous Baby” sung by the Fairy, every including to the characterisations of the singer. Along the best way, we’re given a spread of Eighties music properly sung with energetic choreography from Nicky Griffiths together with “The only way is up”, “Walking on Sunshine “, Never gonna give you up” and a finale of “Built this city”. It actually makes you smile and faucet your ft as you recognise the tunes. They construct on this with a Name that tune phase performed on the skeleton bones together with “Let it go” and “Thriller” which the youthful viewers members positively recognised. They carry the musical choice bang updated with the Eurovision entry “Spaceman”.The musical theme is added to by Justin Brett repeating final yr’s innovation of including two Showstoppers numbers and creating improvised songs primarily based on brief interviews with two viewers members. This is at all times spectacular however is dependent upon the standard of fabric provided by the viewers member. Indeed, Brett appears extra comfy ad-libbing within the interviews and making up the lyrics of those songs than he does delivering a few of the written traces. There is various grownup innuendo in his traces which I’m certain does go efficiently over the youngsters’s heads however nonetheless feels slightly misplaced on this present. He is supported in these songs by Georgia McIntyre and Emma Thornett as Hot and Spicy Chicks, a punk rock group. Hannah Fairclough offers the love curiosity for Jack as Jill.
Mark Walters’s set and costume design are engaging and efficient with some good speciality clothes for the Dame, a wonderful costume for Fleshcreep, a delightfully charming (and underused) cow and an impressively massive Giant. The Beanstalk does rise impressively to finish Act 1 though the shackle is considerably seen spoiling the phantasm. There is an effective inventive concept to open Act 2 with a Top Gun canine battle on the best way to cloudland, nevertheless it was exhausting to listen to all of the traces over the underscore which lessened its influence.This is an pleasing Pantomime restricted by the budgets of the small regional venue however filled with inventive concepts and making a live performance social gathering environment from its first singalong Christmas prologue however someplace the narrative and storytelling, character relationships and pantomime enterprise important for a fantastic present get misplaced within the music even when that’s “Fabulous baby”!
Review by Nick Wayne
Rating: ★★★
Seat: Stalls, Row J | Price of Ticket: £29.25