Panto fun a laugh for all - oh yes it is!
Wayne Beese, Shropshire Star
11 December 2009
More than 600 school children cheered, jeered, clapped and sang their way through Telford's latest pantomime - and loved every minute.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs opened at Oakengates Theatre yesterday to a rapturous reception from capacity crowds, including youngsters from St Luke's Catholic Primary School in Trench.
The seats were rocking before the pantomime even started as youngsters clapped and sang along to Christmas classics.
But the mood quickly changed as the Wicked Queen - alias Emmerdale and Waterloo Road TV star Kay Purcell - entered the stage to a chorus of hissess and boos.
It took less than a minute for the traditional 'Oh yes I am - Oh no you're not' actor-audience panto exchange to come out of the bag as the youngsters clearly disagreed with Queen Griselda's assertion that she was indeed the fairest of them all.
Purcell, who played Fiona Daggart in the ITV soap, is the big name in this panto and played 'baddie' to perfection.
But, as always with pantos, it is often the funnymen who steal the show and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is no exception.
Dame Dolly Dumpling, alias Chris Casserly, proved an immediate hit when he/she came on stage by throwing free sweets and crisps into an audience that screamed for them like they had never been fed.
Some of the jokes could have been tailored for the audience as they were clearly aimed at adults and delivered to children, but that would be nit-picking.
However, the real stars of the show were the returning comedy duo, Francis and Wheatley, who has the youngsters rolling in the aisles as Freddie and Eddie.
They soaked the audience with water and mercilessly took the mickey out of one poor teacher, which made them an instand hit with 90% of the crowd.
This is a fine panto that has something for all ages and will be enjoyed by most who attend.
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