Review: Goldilocks and the Three Bears at Bayston Hill Memorial Hall
If you go down to woods today you're in for a big surprise . . . For the curtain has just gone up on an anniversary production of Goldilocks and the Three Bears in Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury.
A cast of talented villagers are treading the boards for The Bayston Hill pantomime which is celebrating its 36th anniversary.
And the audience was treated to an evening of madness and mayhem at the show's opening night yesterday.
The pantomime, written by villager Judy Shone, tells the story of Goldilocks and The Three Bears – with a few additional twists and turns along the way.
The bears gave a truly 'pawsome' performance, reminiscent of a modern dysfunctional family, with a spoiled and demanding Baby Bear played by Alice Fraser, a lazy but loveable Daddy Bear played by Bob Pringle, and the put upon Mother Bear who holds the family together, portrayed by Alison Lewis. The bears' porridge business faces ruin when it is sabotaged by the evil and menacing baddies Rip Van Winkle and Mr Winkie, Colin Jones and David Cleaver, who were booed and hissed in true pantomime style by the audience.
They eventually got their just desserts when Goldilocks, portrayed by Lucy Painter, hatched a plan to successfully regain control of the factory.
The show kept moving at quite a pace with energetic performances from Kathryn Poli as Bo Peep and Richard Oliver as Jack whose rapid succession of jokes and daft antics kept the audience laughing.
No show is complete without a good supporting chorus and the youngsters did not disappoint. Strong performances were given in the pirate scene by Charlotte Memory, Maddie Lewis-Jones and Becky Jenks.
This is local theatre at its best.
The show runs until Saturday at the Bayston Hill Memorial Hall from 7.30pm.
Tickets range between £2.50 and £4.50 and are available from Rowlands chemist on (01743) 972154 and Lyth Hill Stores (01743) 873721.
By Robert Clements and Catherine Ferris
Featured local business - Mad Jacks Restaurant in Shrewsbury
