Reviews

Lyndhurst Drama & Musical Society     Vernon Theatre, Lyndhurst Darren Funnell       29 January 2023 I love Panto season. Adults can be childish again. Children can be children. Reviewers can have fun. I went into the Lyndhurst Panto not knowing anything about the plot. We all know Cinders WILL go to the ball and that Snow White should have developed Malusdomesticaphobia (ok, I had to look that up!). Here we have the titular talking dog Flute helping his Toymaker master battle Baron von Blitzen’s world of no toys and no happiness to get the girl – Princess Vashmi. Along

Lymington Players     The Malt Theatre, Lymington Community Centre, Lymington Anne Waggott       28 January 2023   After a bumbling passenger pulls the emergency communication cord on a steam train, a mismatched bunch of passengers are left stranded at a rural Cornish train station overnight. As the creepy stationmaster reveals the ghostly secrets of the station, will the passengers stick together to survive the otherworldly threats of the night? Or will the ghosts of the station claim more victims before morning? Building apprehension and foreboding right from the start, with a great choice of scene-setting music, visual and sound

Bishopstoke Players    Durley Memorial Hall, Durley Anne Waggott  27 January 2023   A pantomime set in space about an electrician protecting the Earth’s electrical supply… Surely that would never work? Oh yes, it would – and oh yes, it does! When the evil Emperor Ping of Planet Pongo plots with his henchmen, Pang and Pong, to take control of all of the Earth’s electricity, holding every one of the planet’s citizens to ransom, who else can save the day but bungling electrician Gordon ‘Flash’ Bennett? (There’s a reason he has his nickname, but I won’t spoil it!) Assisted by

Highcliffe Charity Players    Regent Centre, Christchurch Chelsea Ball   27 January 2023 It is January and, of course, that means we are in the midst of pantomime season across our beloved local theatre companies (oh yes we are!). With so much choice, it can be difficult to know which one to pick. Whilst I cannot speak for any other pantos, I can confirm that Highcliffe Charity Players have, once again, produced a bloomin’ good show with this years’ pantomime, Cinderella. The production team did a great job of choosing a Cinderella script, with a slight twist. It was really refreshing

SOS Presents    MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton David A Putley   26 January 2023 In 1977, at the height of the media frenzy concerning “Evitagate” search for a star, I was bought a Book called “Evita The Woman With The Whip” by Mary Maine. This told a totally different story to the regime decisions and pure nastiness that is only alluded to in the show as written, addressed slightly with the film. So, what we have is a kinder, almost affectionate interpretation of the individuals concerned. And this is what sings through in this hugely innovative and enjoyable production under the

Chesil Theatre    Chesil Theatre, Winchester Anne Waggott   25 January 2023 “If the New Testament is the greatest story ever told, then Macbeth is hot on its heels in second place.” So says Zoe Stanford, Director of Chesil Theatre’s current classic production. She may well have a point. As relevant today as it was in Shakespearean times, with themes of passion, war, trauma, power and revenge at the core of the story, this is a powerful and memorable version. From the audience demographic, it would appear that ‘the Scottish play’ is on the English/Drama curriculum this year. If so, then