Leeds City Varieties Music Hall – until 9 January 2021
Reviewed by Sal E Marino
5*****
There was a tremendous feeling of pure joy, jubilation and non-stop uncontrollable laughter across Leeds last night, as Beauty and the Beast – the famous Rock ‘n’ Roll panto – was showing at the fabulous City Varieties Music Hall. After receiving the warmest of welcomes from the front-of-house team, an excited audience settled down for what was the best pantomime I’ve ever seen – and I genuinely mean that!
Brilliantly written by Peter Rowe and directed by Rob Salmon, this year’s Rock ‘n’ Roll panto really ‘Gets the Party Started’ and that, along with a whole jukebox of top hits (all performed live by the spectacular multi-versatile cast) was outstanding in itself! Where else can you see the Fairy Godmother banging the drums and Pantomime Dame playing the sax? At first, one didn’t realise the cast were actually playing the music live as it seemed so effortless and note-perfect so just how that was done, after performing very physically challenging all-singing and all-dancing scenes, I really don’t know – sheer talent!
Every single character was superb in their own right but Simon Nock, as Dame Bessie, really knocked the bloomers off funny. He totally embodied his character not just physically, which was hilarious on sight, but in every scene that Bessie was on stage – you felt like you were at a stand-up comedy show! I can’t remember laughing so much at a live performance in such a long time. Of course, Nock was complemented by an extremely uproarious and side-splitting gang: Kenny Davies as Sir Peacock Beauregard, James William-Pattison as Desperate Dan, Hannah Price as Vanity, Hannah Baker as Luxury, Alice Gruden as Primp,Tim Roberts as Preen and Lana Walker as Fairy Fortunate.
Innuendo filled with spontaneous belly laughs coming from every seat, Beauty and the Beast, also had romance and heart-felt moments which came from our beautiful Beauty, Grace Lancaster and amazing singer and actor – Prince / Beast, Connor Mellor. These two didn’t fail to deliver the traditional fairy tale love story we all want to see and due to their chemistry – all believed! There were so many highlights and every second was packed with really fabulous music – directed by Dan de Cruz and dance – choreographed by Sam Spencer-Lane.
Seamless staging, set, lighting and sound (Sam Spencer-Lane, Dawn Allsopp, Tim Oliver and Simon Deacon) meant that we were treated to a full traditional story; following Sir Peacock Beauregard (and his three daughters) from riches to rags and back again, with a chance meeting with the Beast and his tragic story entwined. Finding themselves at Mucky Manor Farm in Leeds, with hosts Dame Bessie and Desperate Dan, really was too much for haughty daughters Luxury and Vanity so they marched off to Harrogate (I really doubt they had as much of a good time there!) and their dear father, after escaping Bessie’s clutches, found himself with the Beast in his castle. In a mix-up regarding a stolen rose, Sir Beauregard promised his daughter, Beauty, to the creature after threats of the whole family being eaten! Sweet Beauty eventually fell in love with the Beast and all the other characters came under the love spell too so that four weddings, not just one, ensued in a spectacular finale.
By the end of the show the whole theatre was bouncing as everyone was on their feet dancing and singing their hearts out; there was a lot of love in the room on and off stage. If you want some Christmas cheer or to start off the New Year smiling, I can guarantee that seeing the Rock ‘n’ Roll panto – Beauty and Beast – will give you feel-good vibes and a merrymaking experience. It’s really one for the children and the adults – old, young and in-between – with nothing but jokes and joy from start to finish!