Beauty and the Beast
Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
This was my fourth consecutive trip to Canterbury to see the ‘world-famous’ Marlowe Theatre pantomime. It’s been an incredible 27 years since Beauty and the Beast was the subject and it was in 1997 that producers Emily Wood and Paul Hendy first met during that same production. 2024 sees the circle completed as Wood and Hendy have now been producing first-class pantomimes for 20 years although any suggestion that they are the Beauty and the Beast of the UK pantomime industry would be very unfair on Hendy! Only joking, Paul!
The fairy-tale written by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve in 1740 centres on an arrogant young prince and his castle’s servants who fall under the spell of a wicked enchantress, who turns him into the hideous Beast until he learns to love and be loved in return. The spirited, headstrong village girl Belle enters the Beast’s castle and with the help of his enchanted servants, Belle begins to draw the cold-hearted Beast out of his isolation.
The story doesn’t fit snugly into the panto mould, there are no natural roles for the Dame and Comic and the villain isn’t really evil, however, with Hendy writing the script you know you are in safe hands so Belle has a mother – Madame Fillop and a slightly (!) older brother, Phillipe. Malevolence comes in the shape of Danton who lives in the same village as Belle – a self-obsessed ladies man who is desperate to take Belle out for dinner.
Once again, Evolution Pantomimes throws the kitchen sink at this production and the result is pantomime perfection. Maisie Smith (Eastenders, Strictly Come Dancing) is a revelation as Belle demonstrating she can sing as well as act and dance. She is wonderfully cast as the diminutive heroine of the story metaphorically proving you should never judge a book by it’s cover.
Central to the comedy of the show are the returning Phil Gallagher and Ben Roddy as Phillipe and Madame Fillop respectively. Evolution never forget that pantomime has it’s roots firmly planted in commedia dell’arte and there are wonderful examples of lazzi in the shape of a traditional and puntastic cart scene involving over 40 film titles and a welcome return of the button routine which plays music to signify how you are feeling – brilliantly inventive and very, very funny. Gallagher and Roddy are the perfect comedy double act and they are more than ably supported by the scene-stealing Richard David-Caine as the dastardly Danton who looks uncannily like Eddie Menuek from Friends!
There are also excellent performances from Jocasta Almgill as Cupid, a festive fairy with the voice of an angel, Tyler Collins as the candlestick Bougie and Joseph Hewlett as the Beast. Hewlett’s version of U2’s With or Without You is spine-tinglingly good and only Hendy would and could write in a segue between this rock classic and You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hanson proving once again that Evolution is the most innovative and original pantomime producer in the UK. Nothing feels derivative and there is a freshness in everything they do.
As always, the music is executed by a top-notch band led by Chris Wong celebrating an unbelievable 30 years at the Marlowe – he surely must have started as a teenager. The song choices are always unusual and inspiring and this year we are treated to hits by an eclectic goody-bag of artists including Kiki Dee and a rousing Bon Jovi. Throw in a spectacular car special effect provided by Burnt Toast SFX and the ingredients are complete.
Hendy, who also directs, then works his magic with an impeccable recipe which fuses these components into two and a half hours of fantastic, festive, family fun. It’s utterly brilliant and this particular reviewer can’t wait for next year’s offering which is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Do yourself a favour, get yourself to Canterbury and experience pantomime as it should be done and book for next year before you leave.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reviewer: Patric Kearns
Photo: Pamela Raith