Aylesbury Waterside Theatre- until Sunday 5 January 2020
Reviewed by Annie Hughes
4****
If you are searching for a warm and fuzzy musical treat to enjoy with your loved ones this festive season, then looked no further than Aylesbury Waterside Theatre’s annual pantomime Beauty and the Beast. Adults and children alike will not be able to resist laughing along to the jokes, singing the catchy songs and screaming as the baddie appears.
This tale as old as time, set in the quaint French town of Camembert, has been reimagined into a witty, festive modern pantomime. It really is a masterclass in the arts of dancing and singing throughout. Amelia Adams-Pearce as Belle kicks off the show with a powerful rendition Footloose, accompanied by the charming backing dancers from Castielli School of Dance and Vivo D’Arte. Throughout the show, the professionalism of these little dancers is so impressive, particularly in act one when they appear as balletic forest creatures who guide Belle’s father to his dismal fate of the Beast’s castle. The choreography and music choice throughout the show is fresh, modern and captivating.
While the characters are not explored in as much depth and complexity as the original tale, this matters little as, after all, the aim of a pantomime is laughter and joy! And the jewel in the crown of this particular show is no the laugh-out-loud comical interludes with La Voix as Polly Pot et Pan and Andy Collins as Louis Pot et Pan. The traditional Beauty and the Beast tale is refreshingly broken up with moments of pure joy from this comedy duo. What is most admirable about the two actors is how they manage to act to the vast amount of kids in the audience, while still injecting many jokes for the benefit of the parents. They really make it a pantomime for all. This culminates in a ridiculously hilarious rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas which descends into a riot of toilet roll being thrown across the audience. Yet somehow… it worked!
Do not let the holiday season pass without grabbing yourselves some tickets! It really is the Christmas treat that all the family needs.