“But despite the stellar cast, excellent costumes, and a clever stage design, I think it needed something more – or perhaps something less“
Julia Newbould
Two and a half shiny red apples
Riverside Theatre Parramatta
Sydney
13 – 21 September 2024
British pantomime lives on – this year, Snow White makes us cheer and jeer in Parramatta.
Bonnie Lythgoe’s Productions has once again brought the boos, hisses ,and “No, you’re not”s to children and parents.
As producer Bonnie Lythgoe said, Australian audiences now understand that the audience is a vital part of the show.
The show kicks off with a high energy dance routine by students from three different dance schools, delighting all the little girls sitting around me. My 8-year-old godson was occupied counting the boys in that segment – there were three, and we were both greatly impressed.
The scene is then set by the comic addition Muddles (whose name is earned from his muddling of words and phrases) who gives the audience instructions, making everyone laugh. UK comedy performer Mark Jones plays Muddles, Snow White’s best friend who also narrates the show and encourages audience participation. He is very funny and rings true to the original panto “Buttons” or jester character. He is necessary in an otherwise dark story.
Theatre darling Debora Krizak as the wicked Queen was promptly booed from her first entrance, and continually after that. Her character is mutton dressed as lamb in her leather pants, casts lecherous looks the Prince and jokes about botox.
Adults of a certain age will be very impressed to see original Grease film cast member Barry Pearl (Doody) as Chambers, the Queen’s courtier.
And others will love Sir Cliff Richard as Mirror Enchanted – he’s a highlight and very well cast. He manages to insert most of his best song titles into the script which certainly adds to the fun for the grownups.
In this production, Snow White (played by Eliza Sunderland) is sans the traditional dwarves. Instead, there are seven courtiers, whose names are no longer those familiar to us. No more Grumpy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Doc, Bashful, Happy or Dopey – instead we have Skipper, Grouchy, Alejandro, Smiler, Dozy, Noisy, and Blusher.
It’s a different world – while the political correctness is foisted upon us here – the Queen still sends her courtier Chambers to take Snow White into the woods and bring back her heart.
Unlike the typical story, there is a second mirror – Mirror Disgruntled – who is played by shock jock Kyle Sandilands. He finds it hard to tell the truth about beauty when asked, because of mercenary interests.
Snow White is not the easiest fairytale to adapt to pantomime with no characters naturally lending themselves to the slapstick and corny humour of other pantos.
This is a story of a prince marrying a princess with a wicked stepmother getting in the way of true love by trying to seduce the prince and kill the princess. There’s no fancy ball, no magic carpets and genies, no magic beans and giants, and no neverland.
I found it darker as the show went on. The interval came just as Snow White was told she was supposed to die in the forest. Not a good idea to do this to small children.
The second half was brighter with more singing from the non-dwarves and Snow White.
But despite the stellar cast, excellent costumes, and a clever stage design, I think it needed something more – or perhaps something less.
At almost 150 minutes, it’s a long show, so prepare the family. It’s almost 90 minutes until intermission, and another hour afterwards, which can be tough for kids. And sadly for some kids and godmothers, lollies are no longer thrown from the stage.
Julia Newbould, Theatre Now
