Published Tuesday 8 December 2009 at 10:50 by Julie Watterston
What the Corn Exchange panto lacks in plot, it certainly makes up for in enthusiasm and vitality. Puss in Boots always has a tenuous story line and this one is arguably more feeble than most, but an unremitting array of contemporary songs takes us from one scene to the next without any need to question the script.
From the latest songs like Fight for this Love, superbly parodied by Ian Mowat’s Queen Gertrude in a hideous but immediately recognisable Cheryl Cole costume, to comic reworkings of musical hits, even the slower numbers are upstaged by humorous interjections from the cast.
The cast give their wholehearted best to ensure that the audience has a great time with Adam Brown as the camp herald, Harvey Nicks, Tom Oakley as Thomas, Joanna Woodward as Princess Clara and Paddy Crawley as the French Chef.
Clare Plested is a dippy delight as Fairy Thatcham, with Matthew Grace as Billy Bumpkin, Katherine Hare as Prim Rose and Georgina Hendry as Cherry Blossom, while Joseph Wicks gives a strong performance as the Spanish cat, Banderas.
Newbury Weekly News
