Beauty and the Beast, Burdock Valley Players (From Daily Echo)

Beauty and the Beast, Burdock Valley Players

10:12am Monday 10th December 2012 in Curtain Call By Alan Johns

These guys know the formula for a cracking panto, and with Chloe Black swapping last-year’s director’s chair for the leading-lady role, they are a very talented, versatile company.

Black acts and sings convincingly and her closing duet with Beast/Prince Lee Poore was very well delivered. Talented as the title-duo are, even they are overshadowed by the hilarious performances of Jon Slingsby (cross-dresser Ma), Richard Moffitt (poodle-with-attitude Camembert) and Karen Lindley as a red-hot-momma of a wicked-witch Pussilla.

Steve Pickett and Anna Dowsett are lively as Jack and Helena, with a multitude of enthusiastic personnel taking-up supporting roles.

The musical numbers were all very well-performed, supplemented by the tuneful vocal group ‘The Rosettes’ (Jess Finlay, Fran Griffiths, Glyn Juliff and Hollie Poore).

Sets were bright and colourful, sound and lighting worked well but the piece-de-resistance was snow, yes snow!

Ruth and Martin Gillott Directed and Produced a really enjoyable pre-Christmas present!