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CHILD cruelty, audience abuse, sword-fighting and the essential ingredient
of cross-dressing – this year’s Rhodes panto, Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, has got the lot.
In his programme notes, writer-producer Phil Dale says that the sole purpose of pantomime is to entertain. Based on Saturday’s gala night performance at the Bishop’s Stortford theatre, it’s mission accomplished, Phil.
Dale is as much an influence on the stage as he is off it, slipping with ease into the black leather and guyliner of the cold-hearted and megalomaniacal Sheriff of Nottingham, despatching a custard pie in the face of the youngest cast member and directing numerous insults of “Ugly” at individual audience members.
But this is far from a one-man show and, like Dale, all the leading characters were played by natural performers.
Nathan Stickley and Dan James reprised their successful roles as buffoons from last year’s Jack and the Beanstalk as the Sheriff’s reluctant henchmen, Rodney Bodgit and Colin Scarper, Faye Linden and Grace Wheeler not only caught the eye but held it as Robin and Maid Marion (“Woof!”), while Lee Ellaway as Nurse Trott is the sort of panto dame you would be happy to have as a babysitter.
And special mention to Leventhorpe student Connor Linden, making his debut in a principal role, as the heroic Will Scarlett, who made a decent fist of the tricky task of getting the audience “gang” on his side.
This show’s appeal is that on top of its panto checklist of a villain, dame, hero, pretty women, eager young chorus, slapstick, audience participation and laughs for all the family, at times it steps into the Harry Hill world of surreal entertainment.
This is best illustrated by the puppet woodland creatures scene and, my highlight of the night, the medley of Tinie Tempah, Jessie J and LMFAO featuring the Sheriff (in long leather coat and Tempah glasses), Bodgit and Scarper and the villain’s party posse.
Within the framework of a slick production which moved seamlessly from one scene to the next, whose entertainment values are matched by the sets, costumes, lighting and music, and with fire, water (get ready to duck near the end) and a snow machine thrown in, it’s got all the elements and constitutes a great night out locally.
Oh, and the Observer gets a couple of mentions. What more could an audience want?
• Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood continues at Rhodes until January 2. Tickets are £14.95 (concessions £11.95, family ticket £46) from the box office on (01279) 651746 or online at www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk.
