Salisbury Playhouse Sleeping Beauty A Pantomime Adventure takes the audience on an enchanting adventure in a modern twist of the original story of Sleeping Beauty by director Ryan McBryde.
On the day of Princess Stella’s (Lottie Mae O’Kill) christening King Arthur Rightus (Neal Craig) asks the good Fairy Frappucino (Claudia Kariuki) to be her godmother. As many of the audience already know the storyline her sister the bad witch Fairy Badflix (Natasha O’Brien) is incensed by this decision as she wanted the role.
Television addict Fairy Badflix uses her huge remote control wand to cast the curse onto the Princess that she will prick her finger on her 21st Birthday and die. However, Fairy Frappucino counters the curse put on her by the spell to allow the Princess to only fall asleep until she is woken by a Prince’s kiss in one hundred years! Luckily this process is slightly hurried along.
Scotty Armstrong in the role of this year’s Pantomime Dame Nanny Fanny Adams is hired to look after Princess Stella and keep her safe until she’s 21. Off to a secluded farm, they go and the Princess is never told of her Royal Heritage or who her father is. However, the farm is regularly visited by an “Amazing” delivery driver every day “The King” who watches the Princess grow up.
Princess Stella’s best friend is the charismatic, entertaining and personable Mike the Magnificent (Joseph Peacock) between the two of them they get up to mischief at times. Mae O’Kill and Peacock have a wonderful rapport on stage which makes their character’s relationship more genuine and organic.
The writers Plested Brown and Wilsher have blended the original storyline of Sleeping Beauty with familiar high street branded characters from the famous Coffee Chain outfits worn by Fairy Frappucino to the branded logos on the television screen operated by Fairy Badflix. This version is bang up to date and revitalised offering a visual delight for all the family.
Usually, there’s one or two characters that stand out in a performance. However, I found myself bouncing all evening from one to another as the story developed, I have concluded that each of the characters is brilliant in their roles and complements one another.
Designer Katie Lias has created a fabulous range of bright costumes that can be seen wherever you are seated in the auditorium which is perfect for a Pantomime. From the recognisable coffee cup costumes worn by Fairy Frappucino to There’s a hint of the 2003 Nickelodeon children’s programme Lazy Town in the costumes, colours and hair too which I wondered if it influenced some of the designs.
Please be aware if you are bringing young children that there are quite a few loud bangs throughout the performance especially when Fairy Badflix is around which can catch them off guard and cause a few tears in the auditorium. Nothing happens that I would deem frightening just the noise although ear plugs are available just ask the friendly Wiltshire Creative staff if you require any.
There is a non-stop range of music, jokes and some adult innuendos throughout the Pantomime which offers something to entertain the whole family this festive season at the Salisbury Playhouse.
For more information about Sleeping Beauty please visit the link below.
Four Stars.
Photo credit Pamela Raith.
Theatre, Art and Film Reviews 
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