By Faith Eckersall

REVIEW: Sleeping Beauty – Ferneham Hall – Fareham

There is only one way to judge a panto, if you ask me. And that’s by the Dame. If the Dame’s rubbish, you may as well go home.

Lucky for those of us who packed Fareham’s Ferneham Hall, then, that our Dame, Nurse Nellie in Sleeping Beauty, is Mark Siney, whose credits include Phantom of the Opera. Siney is ‘Back by popular demand’ and no wonder.

Alternatively surreal and witty – with some great gags for the adults and an on-going romance with ‘Adam in row four’ – Nurse Nellie served up a constant flow of fun. I lost count of her costume changes after number seven and when she forgot her lines and started ad-libbing, it was even better.

Ferneham Hall is smaller than your average auditorium which means that everyone is much closer to the action, the slapstick and the very special effects – including one of the scariest dragons you’ll ever see on stage - and it really brings you into the show.

The story starts with Fairy Fortywinks, actor Sarah Moss, introducing us to the big day ahead – the christening of Belle, Princess of Slumberland. From then on the story closely resembles the one you’ll have seen in the Disney film - except for the time machine! - and if you like your panto traditional, you’ve definitely come to the right production.

Every single element that makes up a great panto was there, from Nurse Nellie’s hilarious strip, to a fantastic and messy Bake-Off with son, Chester the Jester, energetically played by David Dobson. Local gags came thick and fast, there was a strong mix of singalong songs plus some great dancing, and naturally there was the time-honoured opportunity to yell ‘He’s behind you’.

Bad Fairy Carabosse – played by Kay Purcell of Tracey Beaker Returns fame – rocked the pointy hairdo but perhaps they missed a trick, not having her arrive at the back of the theatre and doing the traditional fright walk down the central isle.

Naturally it ends happily ever with Prince Valiant (Noel Sullivan) and Princess Belle (Carol Heffernan) deciding to get married, much to the joy of her father (Paul Bentley).

Like the rest of the cast, all three were in great voice and because the producers have gone for solid performers, instead of reality TV ‘stars’ to pad it out with (OK, Noel was in Hear’say but he’s an acclaimed West End performer now) you end up with a proper show.

All panto stars know that for many of their audience this will be their first-ever experience of being in a theatre and witnessing a live production. The Ferneham Hall’s Sleeping Beauty gave them one, in spades.

*Sleeping Beauty is on until December 31 2016