Stage Dragon: ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Wakes to Wonders Again at the Yvonne Arnaud

Published on: 14 Dec, 2019
Updated on: 14 Dec, 2019

The cast of Sleeping Beuty

By Ferenc Hepp

A year ago, yes, but it seems only yesterday we adorned the tree, hung the decorations and wrapped the presents, but here we are again, glass slipper ready and waiting for the seasonal treat of Yvonne Arnaud’s panto, the magical Sleeping Beauty.

The welcoming dragon to greet your arrival.

A dragon greets you at the doors amid the festive atmosphere of the refreshed front of House areas.

And the first fairyland scene is opened by a rapping Fairy Stardust, Yolanda Ovide (a LAMDA graduate), and a smiley, energetic ensemble of dancer students from Italia Conti, Laine Theatre Arts, The Brit School, Guildford’s own Performance Preparation Academy and Guildford School of Acting.

With them, the juvenile performers from Italia Conti and the Briar Dance Academy look as if they are having the time of their lives on stage.

The talented Katie Beard’s interesting and complex choreography is highlighted by a fantastic vision of pink with a magical costume and lighting design by Jamie Attle and John Harris respectively.

There are also familiar faces, our own Brummie, Jamie Brook, as Muddles this year and Eagle Radio’s Peter Gordon (PG) getting more and more comfortable in a dress every year as Nanny Fanny. The chemistry between them works well, especially in the messy kitchen scene, and their rapport with the audience is as hilarious as ever.

Peter Gordon as Nanny Fanny with Jamie Brook as Muddles

Michael Sheldon is regal as King Cuthbert, although possibly more suited to his previous Shakespearean roles rather than panto.

We needed little encouragement to boo and hiss Carabosse’s entry from the traditional stage left, and great to see Kit Hesketh-Harvey back in a baddie role, being more and more evil and camp year by year.

Fairy Stardust (Yolanda Ovide)

I wanted to see even more from Kit as he does make these roles his own by his brilliant facial expressions and humour.

A special mention must also go to Simon from the front row, a good sport who joined in when picked on by Kit early on.

Holly Tandy brings a lovely northern charm to Sleeping Beauty and the dashing Andy Smith is charming as the hipster “Eco” Prince Florizel, of whom Greta Thunberg would be extremely proud. This proved an interesting and topical angle with pleasant and well-sung musical numbers as the story is told.

Holly Tandy as Sleeping Beauty and Andy Smith as Prince Florizel

But this needs more of the fun and laughter we should be having, more silliness for the children, more innuendo for the adults and more familiar and upbeat numbers.

The audience was a little quiet in Act One, but things do pick up in Act Two with more funny magic by Brook, a clever exchange between Brook and PG using the names of board games and a very welcome return of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

This interpretation of Sleeping Beauty is probably not to everyone’s taste, but the cast do have lots of fun and you will come away with smiling whether you are five or 85. Oh yes you will!

Sleeping Beauty runs until Sunday, January 5, and tickets are available via www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk or by calling the box office on 01483 440000.