Review: Sleeping Beauty ****

If you love traditional pantomime you'll love Sleeping Beauty. With its beautiful story book sets, side-splitting humour and a dream team of pantomime favourites, Sleeping Beauty is more than just a great treat for the family it's a veritable banquet.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Dec 2010, 11:06 BST
Updated 7th Jan 2011, 14:46 BST

Wakefield Theatre Royal have pulled out all the stops this year and gone for gold and, although there are no "names", they have a strong, hardworking talented cast.

Heading the comedy line-up is Gavin Spokes as Jake the Cake, a bundle of energy with great comedy timing. Although his jokes are corny he still had the kids with him every inch of the way and had them yelling for more when he left the stage!

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As Dolly Mixture, Chris Hannon is an in-your-face, raucous dame, who could, become one of the finest dames in the country if he adopted a few of the late and great traditional pantomime dame styles of Norman Evans, Nat Jackley and Les Dawson in his characterization.

Laura Medforth, Fairy Spindleberry and Gillian Hardie as the evil Narcissus are a formidable duo who really do make you believe in magic and make a refreshing change to the usual stereotypes in the fairy and villain department.

Completing the cast are Carly Bawden and Oliver Saville, a prince and princess who blend together beautifully in both vocals and dance numbers and a wonderful, loveable King Cole, John Griffiths, this production is one not to be missed.

Runs to January 2.

Theatre Royal Wakefield