BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER -CONCLUSIVE PROOF

The Pantomime is one of the great Woldingham traditions along with the Boxing Day Hockey match and the Flower Show. But this year, with some key people from previous years unable to participate, could Woldingham pull it off again? The answer is a resounding "Yes". With a relatively inexperienced team, a terrific evening of entertainment was given in the form of 'Beauty and the Beast', directed by Sarah Greenwood.

The show started with the story of twin princes, the evil brother Jasper (excellently played throughout by Alex Reeves, with a wicked grin and wonderfully evil laugh) putting a spell on his brother Casper, so that he could get the Crown. Casper turned into a Beast on stage but Fairy Rose (played by multi-talented Catherine Osborne who was also the show's choreographer), witnessed the whole thing and then took away the Beast's memory in order to reduce his suffering.

The Beast himself (Andrew Robinson) then became an endearing creature with a superb gruff voice (how did you keep that up all week, Andrew?) to whom everyone mistakenly attributed the mysterious disappearance of several villagers.

The spell had to be broken by his true love picking a rose for him. Bonnie, a beautiful maiden, charmingly played by Olivia Cox, arrived on cue. She was the daughter of Dr. Tootle, (strongly portrayed by Ziggi Szafranski, playing someone three times his own age) who was selling Karaoke Candy, which gave his customers superb singing voices, but with the unfortunate side-effect of growing large black moustaches.

The first half of the show took place in a French Village. Wonderful pantomime entertainment was led by the Bon Bon Family - village sweet shop owner Widow Bon Bon (Michael McGowan) and her children: Sherbert (Matthew Martin), Candy (Katharine Mead), and Flossie (Kirsti Skelton). Widow Bon Bon carried off her extravagant dressed with great aplomb, especially the French Resistance outfit and the young Bon Bons gave good team work and natural performances as young adults not allowed to grow up by their mother. We all loved to hate Traffic Wardens, and Beckie Fuller, Richard Bissmire and Andrew Bissmire gave us great delight as Nosey Parker, Kirby Crawler and Justin Casey Parks by creating havoc with the village parking.

Jasper, the evil brother made away with Bonnie and her trusty steed, Gigi (Jessie Morris and Hannah Jarman) to the castle where she met and fell in love with the beast. In the rescue attempt, the Bon Bon family encountered a talking castle, feather boa constrictors, a nightmare nursery and people being turned into stone. Meanwhile, the fairy and her trainee, Fairy Chardonnay (Katie Atkins gave a beautifully judged comic performance in this role) helped everyone along by granting their wishes. The happy ending came when Bonnie picked a rose and gave it to the Beast who spectacularly turned into Casper again.

The cast gave some wonderful performances punctuated by well-known songs. The musical numbers were fun and up-beat and held together by Michael Bourne, Libbie Reeves and Stephanie.

It was the little touches that made the pantomime so memorable. I list just a few-

The transformation into the Beast using the reflection in a mirror, with Casper's reflection copying his action to a tee.

The crowd scenes where everyone was involved in something, giving the impression that you were looking at a bustling town square - very professional. The Karaoke dance by 3 young boys of the chorus. These three stood out and I am sure we will be seeing more of them in the years to come.

The part of Nicole - who kept being called offstage by her "Papa". Candy and Flossie who managed to carry off the most unflattering dresses of 2004 - deliberately unflattering, I hasten to add. The Mann Trapp Family singers dressed in curtain material exhibiting delightful confusion over the words of their songs.

The enthusiasm (and loud voices) of the village Traffic Wardens and their Traffic Warden in Training (TWIT). The flying lesson given to Fairy Chardonnay by Fairy Rose, written in by the Director, I believe to give the fairies real magical flying to do. The fairies' witty exchange culminated in the song 'Lift me Up', which was just delightful.

Jasper talking to himself as he tried to convince everyone that Casper was in the carriage behind him. The Blue Peter cookery lesson as the Bon Bon Family made live Gingerbread Men. The moment when the Beast ate some Karaoke candy and sang like Pavarotti - wonderful arm movements.

The dancers in the Nightmare Nursery and the superb Can-Can performance by nearly the whole cast. A miraculous on-stage change into a yellow ball gown by Bonnie.

The telling moment was at the curtain call when no single person got the loudest cheer since all the cast from the youngest to the oldest had given a superb and professional performance.

The Technical Manger, Simon Aggiss, did a wonderful job as ever. Marian Szafranski also deserves mach praise for producing what seemed to be hundreds of beautiful costumes.

Great credit should go to all the cast and backstage crew and especially to Sarah in her debut as a Director. It was an inventive and thoroughly enjoyable show. Here's to Next Year.

Polly Morris