Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Review

The Epstein Theatre, Liverpool – until Wednesday 2nd January 2018

Reviewed by Julie Noller

5***** 

LHK Productions have brought Christmas to The Epstein Theatre in Liverpool, it’s fun, vibrant and sack full of festive family entertainment. For those who don’t know, The Epstein Theatre is a small older theatre, with a few stairs to climb but is perfectly situated across from the main Liverpool Central train station. It’s cosy feel helps the whole audience gain a true sense of belonging, it was great to see so many excited children and adults alike. Flashing lights from many a pink furry wand would light up their faces along with cheers, boos and hisses; made it a show to remember.

Claire Simmo delights sprinkling us with a dose of glittery fairy dust in her role as The Fairy, sequins galore as she sparkles and tinkles in the bright lights. Lewis Pryor once again sends electrical sparks across the stage as pantos lovable cuddly character, energy abounds and he never lets up as Muddles or Magic Muddles as he informed us he liked us, his new friends, to greet him… every time. His magic trick involving three bins and a balloon is simple but actually quite funny to start the show and I wonder how many balloons will be lost over the shows run. Lovely Mia Molloy is joyful as Snow White, everyone’s friend, talking to the birds. Her solo musical rendition of Wonderful World deserves recognition, it’s a moment of calm and a total contrast to the mayhem unfolding. Alex Patmore is unrecognisable from the last time I saw him on stage as Bobby Willis in Cilla and brings to life Prince Valiant with a wicked twinkle in his eye. As is the case with Panto, are the mistakes ever truly mistakes or scripted? Does anyone including the actors even know, that is what makes it fun. I loved as did the rest of the audience judging by the whoops and squeals and wonder if it was a dare for Prince Valiant to pull off Dame Debbie’s wig. Everyone’s favourite Dame deserves a massive cheer for Michael Chapman is quite easily one of the best, naughty and playing the audience for every laugh, Double D for short had an accent that reminded me of every news article I see with young Londoners, that hint of Vicky Pollard init. You don’t hear people say very often that Panto requires skill but it was there in abundance, easily going off track, engaging the audience and bringing the tale back in line, if I could include a clapping hands emoji in this review then I would.

Daryl Holden takes on the role of evil henceman, carrying out the bidding of Wicked Queen Kim Woodburn. He is Irish and the jokes are slightly un-pc but hilarious, attempts at line dancing, attempts at the accent to blend in, this is Liverpool after all and being half Irish or even a ‘turd’ third Irish are not unheard of. Fair play to Kim Woodburn for playing up her own personality and throwing in those lines we would expect and have even come to love, her silky smooth voice lends itself to the evil Queen perfectly. Then on a huge screen who should appear but the very lovable Man in the Mirror himself (no not Micheal Jackson, yes it was a gag) Derek Acorah. Having explained to my teenage daughter Most Haunted’s greatest gag, Derek himself played on it by exclaiming his sisters favourite panto, was Dick Whittington – Mary Loves Dick he giggled; as did we all, despite it being predictable.

We must mention all the dancers on stage from the local children who warm your heart and envoke memories of watching many school nativities, to the wowzers of incredibly high kicks. Our Seven Dwarfs are actually the tallest characters on stage, local children in massive feltesque costumes. All with local names, If you’re a Scouser you’ll get all the humour if you’re not you will still follow names such as snotty, scally, softlad and woolyback because he’s from the Wirral (being from Cheshire I shrunk into my seat)

I left the theatre after a rousing rendition of I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday, I’m still smiling from ear to ear, all ready for Christmas and I know all the children in the audience loved it too. Pantomime is a Great British tradition that is as Christmassy as wacky jumpers and pigs in blankets. Why go to The Epstein Theatre this Christmas time? It’s fun, fast and hilarious, from Muddles jumping off stage to land next to us, DD attempting to blend in with us to escape from the fuzz, Prince Valiant taking a large swig of a drink belonging to the lady sitting in front of me. Not to mention being soaked by a water blaster. Because The Epstein is compact and bijou there is no hiding place, the actors up on stage had the most amazing time and I’m so glad I went along for the ride.