Sleeping Beauty - NODA Review
Turnpike Community Theatre celebrate their 40th anniversary with a production of Sleeping Beauty at the Turnpike Gallery.
The set is backcloths that are swished on a pole by the cast for various scenes around the palace. On the cloths I did note there is always a little animal peeking out, so cute. Various props are then brought on by the cast. Set Design Richard Pilkington. Set Construction by Neil Gredecki, Paul Hilton and Richard Pilkington. Properties by Sadie Hobson-Brown. Light and Sound all complemented the set. Lead Technician was Stuart Hill.
Costumes were all fitting and the chorus costumes simple and effective. The dame with the usual joke costumes with cakes and forks on her apron looked good. Malicia had some great outfits too - I would have kept her with the glitzy shoes all the time rather than the brown ones. The Fairy costume was beautiful in blue. Costumes by Elaine Gredecki, Neil Gredecki, Richard Pilkington and Cast.
Choreographer was Sophia Assaf and Director was Hannah Boardman. The cast certainly looked like they were having fun and the music choice was great. I am not sure if it was scripted or added by you but Let’s Get Ready To Crumble was fun and loved I Gotta Feeling.
The chorus was small but effective and doubled up on characters and helping with the set. Chorus was Carole Boardman, Dominic Sharpe and Courtney Zanni who also played Old Guard and Chiri. Alexis Battel was Fairy Tulip, Jeanette Wilkinson was Fairy Marigold and Lynn Grimshaw was Fairy Daisy.
Jamie Barton was the snooty King Boris. Alan Boardman as King Rowan and Lauren Alister were Sleeping Beauty’s concerned parents. Prince Rhod was played tongue in cheek by Neil Gredecki and Princess Rose was played just right by Georgia Heapy. Nurse Nelly Nutmeg the dame was played by Richard Pilkington who worked well with the young audience and was able to get them in the mood and shouting out. Hilarious. The scene where what I can only describe as a severed head comes to life for “he’s behind you” - the children in the audience went wild and lovely how they interacted with the cast.
Anita Grace played Fairy Forget-Me-Not a menopausal fairy who just wants a prosecco. She looked every inch the fairy with added comedy of forgetting what she was saying. Malicia played by Sam Ashcroft looked to relish every minute of playing this role. His underplaying of the role worked and I look forward to seeing him in the future.
Last but not least was Jingling Jerry the Jester played by Emma Morris. Setting up the gag “Get away from Jerry’s book” which the younger audience members loved. Emma had energy in bucket loads and I know the day I saw the show she had another two performances to give. Emma had a great voice too. Well done.
Thank you for the invite and hospitality from my guest Angela and I.
Liz Hume-Dawson
District 5 Rep
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