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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Puss In Boots
Verdict: Traditional pantomime
London - Jacksons Lane - 7 Dec 04 to 3 Jan 05
Puss in Boots is an excitable affair as a mob of children streams through the doors. They’re readying themselves for a bit of shouting ‘He’s Behind You’. An audience of children is so much more unrestrained and energetic than adults – there’s no need for a warm-up.
The stage is bare but effective, using just the silhouettes of the story’s key visual elements to give a feeling of time and place. Puss (Genevieve Swallow) is quite a relaxed cat and very self-assured in comparison to her wuss of a master. The slapstick and corny jokes are so unpretentious that it’s impossible to sit back and not take part. It’s refreshing to watch - and not have to work out subverted, clever brands of humour.
The story is the traditional one. Puss (Genevieve Swallow) tricks the King (Christopher Biddle) into thinking that her master Harry (Matt Ambrose) is a marquis and wealthy, when he is really a poor miller’s son. Boy meets girl – the King’s daughter, Princess Lill (Georgina Ayers-Hunt) - they fight off the Ogre (Paul Critoph) that is terrorizing the kingdom. Clever Puss plans it to a T, and love seals it all.
The children love the cat’s costume, although it is quite simply put together - a fluffy waistcoat, tail, mad hair and whiskers. This is quite an earthy Puss but she fails to state she is Puss in Boots or make much of her boots - although that is insignificant to the story.
The Ogre is tall, painted green, and wired to a sound system - so that when he walks on, a great thudding sound embellishes his presence. The children are suitably petrified and entertained.
The King looks a bit like a tax inspector or money-lender. He’s sprightly on his feet. The Princess is of a high standard visually to impress the 6-year-olds. With pretty dresses and long auburn hair, she’s the stuff of fairy tales - and panto.
Matt Ambrose as Harry has the right magnetism for panto, and the audience needs very little encouragement to answer his questions. Adults secretively bellow too when it comes to ‘It’s Behind You’.
The most stunning character is Nora, the cook / housekeeper / dame (Stewart Fraser) – a Glaswegian version of Lily Savage - played as traditionally by a man. Nora’s amazingly garish and camp dresses liven up the panto visually, and her heavy-smoker’s voice keeps the audience enthralled.
The cast are well-balanced in acting skills - one does not over-shadow the other – and the story flows along, even though the stage is without props for much of the time.
Music - especially the Ogre’s rock and roll song – is well-timed. It’s good to see the traditional role of the pianist (Martyn Niele) at the side of the stage. It gives the panto a home-made feel, and a mob of sugar-fuelled kids goes home happy.
Cast Credits: (Venue's order): Puss - Genevieve Swallow. Harry - Matt Ambrose. The King - Christopher Biddle. Princess Lill - Georgina Ayers-Hunt. Nora - Stewart Fraser. The Ogre - Paul Critoph.
Company Credits: Writer - John Barry. Musical Direction - Martyn Niele. Lighting - Philip Turner. Choreography - Elizabeth Blake. Cat and Ogre Costumes - Polly Sullivan. Director and Designer - Melanie Wynyard. Press and Marketing - Janina Mundy.
END
(c) Cecilia Holmes 2004/5
reviewed January 05 / seen December 04 / Jacksons Lane
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
