Greenwich Theatre – until 7 January 2023
Review by Elizabeth J Smith
4****
Once upon a time there was a little theatre in Greenwich, deep in south London, who dreamed of staging a spectacular pantomime like the large theatre’s in the West End of London.
So she asked Anthony Spargo, who she knew very well as he had performed in her pantos for many years, if he could help. He could, hooray, and he wrote Snow White. Anthony was so helpful to the little theatre he not only wrote the panto but he stared as the wicked witch Queen Narcissus. The draggy queen delivers a rock star performance of songs and cheeky banter with the audience for both young and old, actually he says a lot about both! Like all queens of drag, Queen Narcissus has wonderful costumes and wigs that have a life of their own.
Every wicked Queen needs a nemesis, enter Snow White, Katie Tonkinson. The down trodden Snow White also has dreams of a better life and finds her prince charming in Tom Bales, Prince Charming of Charmington. When the lovers meet and sing “Love is an open door” their love affair is sealed.
Every castle needs a jester, especially one that gives cuddles. Let’s meet Muddles who cuddles. Louise Cielecki bonces on stage with a high kick, her catch phase “who needs a muddles cuddle?”and some of the best one liners.
Where would a wicked queen be without a dogs body too do her bidding? The hunts man, Martin Johnson, runs a tight ship but shows has a heart when push comes to shove. It makes the audiences heart song when he finds his “ball and chain”.
DeeArna McLean plays the magic mirror with robotic artistry which would give “Alexa” a run for her money.
With an almost visible band, Uncle Steve Markwick and Gordoan Parrish ( Greenwich answer to Brian May”) provide the music on stage with drummer Chirs Wyles in the dungeon. He must have upset the queen!
Last but no way least the adorable dwarfs. We meet a set of new dwarfs with characters including Windy, Cockney and Cheeky. These little men steal the show especially when they take to Skys to save the day.
With the use of clever song choices, rapid fire one liners, snow ball fights and audience participation the little theatre of Greenwich fulfils her dream and produces a wonderful panto to rival any of the big boys in London Town.
And lives happily ever after.