Pantomime
Perth Concert Hall
Beauty and the Beast
Mary Brennan
FOUR STARS
Hard not to shout ‘ya beauty!’ as this panto snogs its way to a happy ending – not just for Belle and her no-longer-beastly Sebastian but for numpty Boabby and his surprise squeeze Poison Ivy.
If youngsters raised on the Disney animation wonder where the likes of Dame Betty Blumenthal (Barrie Hunter) and her tumshie laddie, Boabby (Harry Ward) have sprung from – and it’s not the imaginings of the Brothers Grimm – they quickly appreciate the fun, foolery and fart jokes that this brilliantly ridiculous pair bring to the expected tale of a spirited girl, an accursed Prince and a vengeful witch. Actually, in Alan McHugh’s lively, larky panto version you get not one, but two witches – mega-meanie Deadly Nightshade (Amanda Beveridge in fine malevolent mode) and her put-upon sister, Poison Ivy (Angela Darcy). Darcy’s Ivy is a good-natured soul whose wickedness lurks in her killer put downs that mock Nightshade’s obsession with youth and beauty... oh and her kiss, which yet another of her sister’s envious curses has made drop down deadly.
The whole production, directed at a frisky pace by Ian Grieve, is crammed with comedy flourishes. Even the Beast (Martin McCormick) is teased, and laughed out of his growly glooms by Belle (AmyBeth Littlejohn) while Tom McGovern, lurking behind the long straggly beard of ancient retainer Angus, serves up the mirth in his eager pursuit of Dame Betty. As for David Rankine’s smoothie-chops Blair Atholl, he just has to stand there admiring himself to induce our giggles. Ken Harrison’s cunning designs fool you into thinking the stage has acres of space for a tremendous cast reinforced by local youngsters – all keen to ensure that Belle and Sebastian will make sweet music ever after... aaaww.
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