Review: SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, Mayflower Theatre

Photo credit: Stuart Martin

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is another familiar title that has become established as a pantomime and makes a refreshing change from the other standard titles. However, it is not without controversy over the casting of the seven dwarfs in some productions. Although this production calls the characters ‘the Magnificent Seven’ throughout, it has managed to cast seven excellent performers who fit the characters perfectly led by the Professor, Jamie John, who each create individual characters and work well together. Though they don’t use the Disney famous names, they do use the most famous songs from the 1937 Disney film such as ‘Heigh Ho’ and ‘Whistle While You Work’ and it adds to the pleasure in seeing this production.

Most of the Mayflower audience appear to there to see Diversity, the 2009 Britain’s Got Talent winners who, in the production, seem to be expanded to eleven dancers and bring their unique energetic dynamism to their dance routines with their gymnastics elements. Their growing experience of performing in pantomime has developed their integration into the narrative and the routines flow more naturally from the plot. Ashley Banjo plays Prince Ashley, the romantic lead, but Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely also get their opportunities as his sidekicks to add some delightful comic touches.

The comedy is led by Muddles the Jester, played by stand-up comedian Kev Orkian, who has a wonderfully engaging manner in working the audience and delivers old familiar business with a fresh fun twist that makes the routines some of the best you will see this year. His dance off with Perri is wonderful; Orkian moves well but can’t compete with Perri’s spectacular flourishes. The ‘If I was not upon the stage’ routine with the three Diversity leads is simply brilliant with their precise execution and perfect timing adding immensely to this classic routine. Many productions have dropped getting kids on stage for the song sheet but Orkian’s interviews with three kids before singing ‘One Smart Fella’ are handled with a wonderful charm and sensitivity. Indeed, at our performance he was outshone by one nearly 7-year-old girl who, when asked if she enjoyed the show, replied “sort of”, and another 5-year-old gave a delightful solo of ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’. Magic moments that will live in the memory.

If there is one current star who defines pantomime, it is Christopher Biggins who is cast as the Man in the Mirror, this year, and not his more familiar role of Dame, but he does get to dress up in frocks to add an original touch to the ‘If I Were Not’ routine by his repeated interruptions. Indeed, in this production, they have sensibly decided to not shoehorn in a Dame character so Biggins has a less physically demanding role flown in on each entrance in the Mirror and milking his legendary status on each appearance.

Rachel Stanley plays The Wicked Queen, the central character of the narrative trying to prove she is the fairest in the land, while Kirsty Ingram is cast in the title role of Snow White showing that she is the fairest. She gets most of the best songs including the classic ‘Some Day My Prince Will Come’ as well as a lovely medley of ‘Walking in a Winter Wonderland’ and ‘Frosty the Snowman, and even adds a fresh twist when the Queen offers her a poison apple.

The setting and costumes are from the 2018 London Palladium production and look wonderful with dancing polar bears, snowmen, and an impressive huge dragon to fly Dragonella to the woods. The Twins FX also add a wonderful flying sleigh with two deer including Rudolph to fly Muddles over the front row to end Act One on a high. These elements add spectacle and colour to the production which demonstrates what can be achieved with the bigger budgets that venues like this that seat over 2000. Indeed with eleven members in Diversity, ten in the ensemble, seven dwarfs and five in the band, this must be one of the biggest casts outside the current Palladium production and Thom Sutherland, Associate Artistic Director for the venue, does an excellent job in marshalling the team to produce a first-class pantomime. Orkian even calls Snow White his “bestie” and this is a show that our own Besties should see before it closes on 31 December.

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Nick Wayne