It’s panto time again and the old cliche that “it is quality over quantity that counts” gets a severe drubbing this week as Thomson-Leng’s 50-plus company burst on to the Gardyne Theatre stage with enthusiasm and talent to belie their amateur status.
Frosted is loosely based on The Snow Queen, but, of course, has more than a nodding acquaintance with a similarly-named Disney blockbuster.
Colour, comedy and top 20 hits
And the company certainly “let it go” as they burst into Colour My World after Kirsty Beaumont’s Snow Fairy sets the scene.
What follows is a cornucopia of colour, comedy and a top 20 of hits led by musical director Billy Muir — the foursome in the pit certainly raise the roof!
With such a large crowd to maneouvre, it is to the credit of director Donna Bell and choreographer Jenni Main to keep them all in step — and the wee juniors are an absolute delight.
Emily Easton (prince last year, Queen this year — anything goes in Panto) leads the way as Ella, who fails to control her mysterious powers and plunges her kingdom into permanent winter.
Comedy reigns in this kingdom
There is nothing mysterious about Emily’s powers as she leads by example in many a hit number.
Rachel Weir is Ella’s sister Hannah, who joins forces with love-struck Kristian (Neil Hartley) and Nanny Florrie (Tom Richmond) to stop the evil duo Prince Anders (Sean O’Rourke) and Sinestra (Jude Vandecasteele) from taking over the kingdom.
There is no denying the high class musical contribution from soloists and chorus alike, but it is comedy that reigns in this kingdom.
Tom Richmond, once again, is in top form as the irrepressible dame, complete with some pun-ishingly bad jokes.
But, this year, he must share the honours in the comedy stakes with Lucy Reilly, whose nastiness as Duchess Wesley is in contrast to the comic display as Frosty the snowman.
And she gets the best line of the night when she refuses to be returned to the role of a nasty royal (no spoiler alert).
Sean O’Rourke was reported last week to be looking forward to being booed every night on his panto debut as the not-very-nice Prince Anders.
He certainly gets his wish as he impressively involves the whole audience, who vent their fury at his character swaggering around with a self-belief of gargantuan proportion.
However, the method of Anders’ ultimate “downfall” seems a little out of place.
A future in good hands
The society’s future looks in good hands with an accomplished performance by Morgan Academy pupil Archie Turnbull as the Herald.
His singing and comic timing in one so young is impressive. And 15-year-old Roman Baradhi as Token also brings confidence for shows to come.
Frosted is sheer joy from start to finish with superb costumes and staging (scenery by John Urquhart).
The colourful finale to the accompaniment of the Gary Barlow/Peter Kay hit Once Upon a Christmas has the “wow” factor and, to quote the lyrics, no one would be averse to seeing this “over and over again.”
Frosted continues in Gardyne Theatre this week with two performances on Saturday December 3 and Sunday December 4.
