Review – Sleeping Beauty – New Theatre, Cardiff

It’s the countdown to Christmas so it must be Panto Season! Oh yes, it is! Theatres up and down the country are presenting their annual pantomime, giving families, young children and anyone who wants a fun and entertaining night out at the theatre an opportunity to enjoy this great British tradition. This year’s offering at the New Theatre in Cardiff is Sleeping Beauty, which features Morning Live’s Gethin Jones and TV and Radio Presenter and Drummer Owain Wyn Evans. They are both brilliantly supported by Mike Doyle, Jack Ryan, Jalisa Phoenix–Roberts, Emma Kirk and a wonderful group of dancers who add style and grace to the proceedings.

Sleeping Beauty is lively and entertaining from start to finish, telling the story of Princess Aurora who is about to come of age and is very much in love with Prince Gethin of Gabalfa. All is not rosy in Pantoland however, as lurking in the shadows is the power-hungry sorceress Carabosse, who has placed a curse on the princess so that she can rule the kingdom.

The show cleverly mixes the conventions of pantomime with some unconventional additions which really helps to lift it and keep the audience interested. So, alongside the usual comedy routines you also have Owain Wyn Evans as the Spirit of Pantomime, rather than having a traditional good female fairy, and a great job he makes of it too! I also think it was the perfect length particularly for the many small children in the audience who are engaged throughout and are loving every minute.

There is a great use of current popular songs too which also appeals to the audience. The use of lighting and pyrotechnics is also really effective and there is a great moment where Court Jester Muddles flies around the stage and into the front section of the theatre using his backpack jet pack. The costumes are also eye-catching and add to the spectacle, but it would be really good to see a few more costume changes for the main characters, particularly the Dame, Nurse Nellie.

It is obvious to see that the entire company are having the best time and really enjoying every moment. Gethin Jones fits very easily into the role of the handsome hero whose love for Princess Aurora breaks the spell and brings a happy ever after to the kingdom. He enthusiastically throws himself into every scene even having to sing both solos and duets, which is probably out of his comfort zone, but he does it all with infectious enthusiasm. Emma Kirk is a very engaging Princess Aurora and she has a beautiful voice which she puts to very good use. Owain Wyn Evans also inhabits his role with warmth and sparkle and the audience is really impressed with his singing voice.

Jack Ryan as Muddles is perfect as the loveable and sometimes exasperating sidekick to Mike Doyle’s Nurse Nellie and they have a really good rapport together, working off each other wonderfully with some great comic moments that have the audience roaring with laughter. Jalisa Phoenix–Roberts is a fabulous villain as Carabosse, relishing every interaction with the audience and she has a strong and very versatile voice, using her Musical Theatre training to great effect.

The stand out for me is Mike Doyle as Nurse Nellie, he has wonderful comic timing, can certainly deliver a song and has the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. It’s particularly impressive how he interacts with the children who appear on stage to join in with the community singing. He has a lovely manner in his interactions with them and definitely has to think on his feet when some interesting responses come back. He certainly puts them at their ease and has us giggling just as much as they are.

If you’re looking for a fun night out with plenty of laughs, some sing along songs and some fabulous singing and dancing, then look no further than Sleeping Beauty. Take your seat, join in with the Spirit of Pantomime and get ready to have a great time!

****    Four Stars