REVIEW: SLEEPING BEAUTY at Broadway Theatre, Catford 4 – 31 December

‘Good in parts’ ★★★

It’s a show with strengths and weaknesses. Susie McKenna (who also directs) provides a sparky, original script which is, in places, genuinely funny – a witty summary of the progress from spinning wheels to Amazon, for example. And if a bird dropping lands on your head and you choose to ignore it you are, of course, undeterred. (Think about it).

Moreover, you don’t go to panto expecting plot twists but there a couple of interesting ones in this show. Why shouldn’t the Prince (Durone Stokes - good) meet monsters in the forest he has to hack down? And of course, in 2024 it makes no sense that the princess (Roshani Abbey – of whom more shortly) will come out of her coma to find a man she’s never seen before and instantly agree to marry him. McKenna’s is cheer-worthy feminist reworking. 

On the other hand, the script is absolutely larded with overtly leftish political digs. I am a Lewisham resident and know that our council is 100% Labour. There is no opposition in this borough, so the panto is playing to local allegiances. Nonetheless, all this preaching/pandering to the converted gets tiresomely wearing.

The show’s strengths include Justin Brett as Dame Nanny Nora which he lays for laughs, obviously, but is never grotesque and there isn’t a single joke about bodily functions which is a welcome change. He has moreover strikingly beautiful diction, isn’t afraid to use RP and good at giving jokes time to settle.

Lisa Davina Phillip has glittering purple stage presence as Carabosse and sings commandingly. The decision for her to speak in a very broad Jamaican accent, however, again might do down well locally but at times it blurs the clarity and audibility. Natasha Lewis is dependable as Willowsnap, the good fairy who eventually has to facilitate the downfall of Carabosse – although here, it’s about redemption rather than destruction.

Roshani Abbey, though, is the real star of this show. She packs Princess Thalia with feisty confidence and grace and her singing voice is outstanding. I was not surprised to learn afterwards that she trained at Royal Academy of Music.

The five piece band in the pit, directed by Ben Goddard-Young does a fine job too and I don’t think I’ve ever heard a harp (Morwenna Brown) worked into a panto score before. Its effect is delightful.

So it’s generally a pleasing show despite some weak links in the casting. 

SLEEPING BEAUTY at Broadway Theatre, Catford 4 – 31 December

Box Office https://www.broadwaytheatre.org.uk/events/sleeping-beauty/