A stunning panto for all the family
THE popular Loughborough Fair - or as Little Wolf Entertainment call it ‘Luffbra’ fair - provides the setting for their always eagerly awaited annual pantomime, this year being the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk and marks the anniversary of seven years when this was the title of the first Little Wolf panto in Loughborough.
And what a stunning show it was. Writer, director and designer talented Morgan Brind proved to be in a class of his own producing the perfect recipe for pantomime humour, silly enough for the kids, clever enough for the adults with large lashings of topical references thrown into the mix plus a spellbinding fluorescent sequence and the ridiculous slapstick riot, in this case very messy!
Everyone probably knows the story of Jack and the Beanstalk but no matter as when the magical Fairy Ground purposefully played by Louise Young arrived amidst flashes of pyrotechnics she revealed what was to follow (at a rapid word speed I hasten to add) until being interrupted by Walter Waltzer the ‘baddie’ played by the multi-talented Samuel Haughton giving the youngsters the chance to let rip with the inevitable ear bending hissing and booing and the decibels increased at his every entrance.
In Pantoland one of the highlights is the appearance of the Dame and James Peake as Helga Skelter Trott,in this his third Christmas as
Little Wolf’s dame, didn’t disappoint, he was comedy gold to the end delivering the traditional corny jokes, (sorry folks I just love these) plus the casual and pointed comments about local landmarks combined with an abundance of saucy innuendo that was spot on and a lot of water.
Clad in totally outrageous but brilliant innovative costumes throughout, my award has to go to the ridiculous JCB attire, he was the glue that held the entire show together as the master of ad-lib and improvisation and a true entertainer especially when a couple of scenic and props gremlins crept in but hey ho this is pantomime after all.
There were some familiar faces in the cast from last year notably likeable Kristian Cunningham (Jack Trott) and Ella-Jane Thomas who delivered just the right amount of forthright self mockery as Simple Simone, and a definite hit with the kids.
Concluding with a riotous song sheet that had the audience on its feet and the superb sparkling finale ensured Loughborough Town Hall is the place to go for a fantastic fun filled family traditional pantomime. Oh remember I mentioned water, yep I did get wet... how? My lips are sealed.