đ Rapunzel & Friends
đ Modbury Memorial Hall, Back Street, Modbury, Devon, PL21 0RF
đ Saturday 25th January 2024
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CHAOTIC FAMILY FUN!
In my youth I was part of my local amateur dramatics group the Modbury Players, and it's great that all these years later they're still going strong. After last year's successful production of Oliver! they're back this year with a pantomime RAPUNZEL & FRIENDS, written and directed by Sarah Wyatt.
This fun-filled romp is an original story with almost every fairy tale character you can think of making an appearance! Giving everything you expect and want from a community theatre production, RAPUNZEL & FRIENDS boasts a 62 person cast alongside at least 50 others who helped to put the show together.
The story is narrated by Luna, the evil Grizelda's black cat. WIllow Peters is glorious in the role and succinctly tells the story whilst embodying all the idiosyncrasies of a cat! Although the central story is that of Rapunzel, there are lots of other stories intertwined such as those of Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Hansel & Gretal and Babes in the Wood! This keeps the production fast-paced and exciting with never a dull moment.
There were lots of groups of characters including trees, royalty and fairy tale characters, but my favourite has to be the witches and wizards. Sarah Walker gave an epic portrayal as Grizelda, displaying a legendary witches cackle which sent joyous shivers down the spine! Angie Tall was domineering as Maleficent whilst Peter Lowe's Garibaldi had a Scottish accent and rolled his R's more than a wheel of double gloucester cheese going down Cooper's Hill! Ian Godfrey's Uncle Nafarious was somewhere between gleefully camp and channelling the spirit of Leslie Phillips - Ding Dong!
Of course with such a large cast I simply cannot namecheck everyone, but I have to give a mention to Klara Thompson as Rapunzel and Freddy Carder-Lugger as Prince Ethereal. Both completely held their own, conveying every aspect of their characters with believability and they had wonderful singing voices too.
No review of this production would be complete without mentioning the tower! Constructed by a team of local volunteers, led by Gerry McAllister, the tower looked great from the start but the unexpected revolve allowing us to see inside was glorious and just goes to show what can be achieved in amateur theatre.
So much hard work and dedication has obviously gone into this production and it epitomises what a fantastic local community there is in Modbury. The Modbury Players will be back again very soon with another production and if the standard of this one is anything to go by, it's going to be incredible.
Neill Kovacic-Clarke
All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.
My ticket for this performance of Rapunzel & Friends was gifted by the Modbury Players who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.
CAST LIST:
Willow Peters as Luna
THE COPSE: Tilly Burton as Oak; Olive Keohane as Ash; Alba Sullivan as Rowan; Arina Sirenko as Beech; Polina Hrynova as Hazel; Poppy Phelan as Blackthorn; Siân Walker-McAllister as Poplar; Mike Marchant as Joseph; Sarah Gill as Lizzie; Pauline Ryder as Litter Picker
FAIRY TALE CHARACTERS & STUDENT WITCHES AND WIZARDS: Klara Thompson as Rapunzel; Olivia Kenyon as Cinderella/Cassandra; Ozzy Godfrey as Hansel/Albus; Lottie Bonell as Gretal/Elphaba; Fern Walker as Snow White/Glinda; Ffion Hitchcock as Belle/Blaise; Edie Smith as Aurora/Agnes; Airi Sparks as Red Riding Hood/Ariadne; Ben Tall as Robin Hood/Arthur; Wilbur Godfrey as Merry Man Jolly/Evan; Arlo Godfrey as Merry Man Cheery/Agate; Charlie Walker as Babe 1/Merlin; Anna Carter as Babe 2/Astra
WITCHES AND WIZARDS: Sarah Walker as Grizelda; Angie Tall as Maleficent; Booney Bower as Belladonna; Steve Dawe as Beltane; Peter Lowe as Malachi; Sarah Wyatt as Garibaldi; Julia Bonell as Tumbleweed; Ian Godfrey as Uncle Nefarious; Yevhenilia Hrynove as Witch Receptionist
WIL O THE WISPS: Flo Breheny-Smith as Glow; Flo Combellack as Pop; Bo Francis as Wee; Evie Erith as Whizz; Sasha Godfrey as Shhhh; Iris Keohane as Oooh; Martha Smith as Plop; Beth Staynor as Night
ROYALTY: Freddy Carder-Lugger as Prince Ethereal; Rob West as Sidecar the Prince's Valet; Malcolm Collier as King Placid; Rie Sparks as Queen Delightful
KING'S MEN: Vitalii Hyrynov as Cuthbert; Malcolm Collier as Inglebury; Chris Field as Wills; Jim Forster as Harry; Charles Wines as Charles; Rie Sparks as George; Suzie Sleeman as Madame Du Cheval
FAIRY TALE CHARACTERS (16 YEARS LATER): Sarah Drew as Cinderella; Becky Phelan as Hansel; Mandy Field as Gretel; Alice Thornton as Snow White; Beth Steynor as Belle; Lucy Cater as Aurora; Sarah Wyatt as Red Riding Hood; Emma Smith as Babe 1; Vic Breheny-Smith as Babe 2; Mike Merchant as Amazon Delivery Man
THE BAND: Jo Highley - Piano/Violin; Will Erith - Drums; Rick Creed - Guitar; Steve Mayhew - Guitar; Justin Sluce - Bass; Simone Dawes - Cello; Bella Pritchard-Barrett - Violin; Mailli Allen-Waldron - Trumpet/Flute; Tansy Allen-Waldron - Trumpet
RUNNING TIME (approx):
2 hours 30 minutes, including interval
Fantastic show