Santa Claus and The Return of Jack Frost - The Mayflower (From Daily Echo)

Santa Claus and The Return of Jack Frost - The Mayflower

12:49pm Wednesday 16th December 2009

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WHERE else would you find a flying dragon, Susan Boyle and a flurry of snow this Christmas?

Look no further than The Mayflower in Southampton where Santa Claus and The Return of Jack Frost gives you all that and more.

Billed as a panto, the show had more of a musical feel to it, doing what The Mayflower does best with the help of a star-studded line-up.

Stephen Mulhern plays the role of Stephen, Chief of Elves, and his charming and cheeky performance couldn’t help but win the audience over.

In the title role of Santa Claus was Coronation Street veteran Roy Barraclough, whose best moments were when he shared the stage with Chilli Fridge – the object of Stephen’s affections. Her exceptional vocal performance was one of the many highlights of the show.

The stage also proved big enough to encompass an ice rink, the perfect platform for Hampshire’s own ice-skating supremo Robin Cousins – who played the convincingly evil Jack Frost.

Mrs Fridge, the panto dame, provided another highlight with her outrageous portrayal of Susan Boyle.

The narrative was easy to follow recounting how Stephen was mistakenly scooped up into Santa’s sack and taken back to the North Pole to become chief elf, ousting Jack Frost whose bitterness drives him to wreak revenge on Santa.

The 140-minute show was filled with Christmas classics providing the perfect soundtrack for the colourful choreography.

There was certainly no shortage of audience participation, cringe-worthy jokes and slapstick comedy.

Even the coldest of hearts could not fail to be warmed by this spectacular show.

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