REVIEW: Beauty And The Beast - St Helen's Theatre Royal

 

2020 has been a year of turmoil and seen us miss out on those things which bring us joy such as theatre visits, live entertainment, shared laughter and general togetherness.

However, the script was flipped on Monday the 14th of December at St Helens Theatre Royal as something rather special took place.  

The Press night performance of Beauty And The beast created a little bit of magic in Saint Helens. Written by Liam Mellor, directed by Chantelle Nolan, choreography by Nazene Langfield and music supervised by Callum Clark, the panto exploded onto the stage with all its glitz, glitter and glamour, and what a gift it was!

Running from 11th of December 2020 until 3rd of January 2021, the panto tells the famous Disney classic which encapsulates magic, romance, optimism and joy. We witness the love triangle between Prince Benedict of Petit Pois, Belle and Gaston. It's safe to say that Christmas has well and truly arrived in St Helens. It was so joyful to see children and families alike filled with happiness and despite wearing masks it was undeniable that the Esprit de corps and sense of connectedness was welcomed by all.  

It was strange to watch the dancers wearing face masks (clear perspex ones).  I have so much respect and admiration for the cast as it must have been particularly challenging to perform under such conditions.  

Olivia Sloyan played Belle and delivered a strong performance as the leading lady. Tim Lucas  was exceptional as ghastly Gaston. He was witty and higly proficient in physical theatre. His comedic effect created much hilarity whilst connecting him with the crowd, adults and children alike. Abigail Middleton played his mum Madame Botox. She delivered an exuberant performance and the interaction between her and Lucas created a powerful fusion of energy, evill banter and comedy. Scott Gallagher played narrator and French frank. His humour, wit and interaction with the audience was fantastic especially as he referenced the pandemic and bought humour to what has been a challenging year for all. Andrew Geater plays the Beast and also Prince Benedict, Jenna Sian O'hara, the Fairy rose and Jamie Greer plays the hilarious Potty Polly.

I have watched multiple panto's written by Liam Mellor and what strikes me is his witty, sardonic style of writing and his ability to resonate with the audience through his use of local geographical references. There were many references to St Helens and the surrounding areas which were met with rapturous laghter from the audience. The references to COVID-19 certainly made the panto relatable and whilst bringing humour the message of the need for solidarity and togetherness amongst the nation was clear. 

Whilst there was comedy around the circumstance that we all find ourselves in, with it being cleverly intertwined into the story, the seriousness of it was not dismissed, especially during the closing comments encouraging the audience to remain safe and to be grateful that some semblance of normailty had been resumed as a glimmer of hope. From references to Boris Johnson, the 2 metre rule, tiers 1-3, to hand sanitiser, the panto was superbly written and the way in which the musical score was adapted was something short of genius.

This is a must watch for all the family. Expect the usual innuendo aimed towards adult ears and copious amounts of fairytale magic for all. The choreography was exceptional throughout, especially the scene in the woods alongside wolves and owls. It was a joy to watch and I would highly reccommend. Well done to the cast and  a huge thank you for being the first show of 2020 for me personally. I smiled throughout and loved every second.

PR Rating 4 stars

Get your tickets for the show here 

Audiences are assured that St HelensTheatre Royal and the team are fully adhering to Government legislation and guidelines to ensure a safe viewing experience for all.

Show runs until Sunday 3rd January 2021.