UK Theatre Network

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me – a cartilage from a bear’s knee!

Sleeping Beauty is a spectacular family show with a beautiful script by George Wood, a perfect cast, a delightful set, and vibrant musical numbers.   

The engaging story begins on Beauty’s eighteenth birthday and her first venture into the world outside the castle; her parents have kept her locked up to protect her from an evil spell.  While Beauty enjoys her freedom the Jester Jangles takes us back to the day when Beauty was born – a stork literally dropped her into the arms of Nurse Penny. Another baby from a poor family was adopted and Beauty and Jangles grew up together under the ever watchful eye of Nursey. However, Nurse Penny made one fatal mistake – she failed to invite the evil fairy Carabosse to celebrate Beauty’s birth. Carabosse arrives in a dragon chariot pulled by ravens. She is not amused by Nursey’s negligence and declares that Beauty will die on her eighteenth birthday. Thankfully, the Lilac Fairy is able to alleviate the spell to 100 years of sleep. The years pass and Beauty is finally celebrating her eighteenth birthday. On her first day out she meets the charming prince Antonio of Aragon in a romantic forest and they fall in love. However, Carabosse has already concocted an evil plan – Beauty and her entire household fall into a deep, long sleep and Prince Antonio is taken prisoner by Carabosse. Now it is up to Jangles to save Beauty.

George Wood’s characters are well developed and engaging. Anita Dobson is having a field day playing the Villain. Her rendition of “Don’t Stop Me Now” is absolutely hilarious and she gets as many laughs with lines such as “Prepare to be flame-grilled, morons!” as the wonderful comic Tim Vine does as the sweet, sympathetic Jangles. Vine has a true rapport with the audience and his “Twelve Days of Christmas” had everyone call for encores. Nurse Penny, played by the director Fenton Gray, is a cross-dressing delight. Plagued by her conscience for many years Nursey finally has the chance to redeem herself by disguising herself as a French beautician to gain access to Carabosse’s lair to save the Prince and consequently Beauty.         

The costumes and the set are colourful and charming - the backdrops appear to be taken directly out of a fairy tale book.  The director uses video projections onto a gauze curtain for his introduction to the story and for crucial events such as the climactic fight against the dragon. There are many wondrous, magical scenes in this production such as when Beauty’s toys come alive in the night of her eighteenth birthday.

The audience was involved throughout the performance and the children seemed really taken by the story. When the Prince proceeded to sing a song instead of kissing Beauty whilst time was running out one child in the audience shouted:”There’s no time for that!”

This is a truly delightful show with fun and laughter – and suspense.   

Sleeping Beauty runs until 16 January 2011 at the Richmond Theatre.

Richmond Theatre, The Green, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1QJ
http://www.ambassadortickets.com/1624/659/Richmond/Richmond-Theatre/Sleeping-Beauty-Tickets