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★★★★
Nothing says Christmas in Canterbury like the Marlowe Theatre pantomime opening its doors for another year. 2024 sees the theatre and co-producers Evolution Productions present ‘Beauty and the Beast’, starring Eastenders’ Maisie Smith, local legend Ben Roddy and Phil Gallagher (CBeebies Mister Maker) to name but a few. When the iconic ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ overture begins and the curtain rises, the audience quickly learns that this is definitely not the Disney version and is welcomed to the Isle of Thanet (pronounced with a French accent) for a magical festive story with a happy ending. I have frequently mentioned in the past that watching the Marlowe Theatre pantomime is a festive must-do in Canterbury and even though ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a little different to historic ones, these statements still ring true.
Initial thoughts
‘Beauty and the Beast’ as a narrative is probably the least eventful of the stories that I have watched within the pantomime genre, but what it lacks in terms of good vs evil, it makes up for in its fun characters, musical creativity and festive spirit. It is also the first that I have seen without a villain, with the closest resemblance being Danton (akin to Gaston in the Disney version, played by Richard David-Caine). Although he doesn’t have a hateful bone in his body; he is simply an amusing narcissist with a ‘totally realistic’ six pack. It was a little odd to not spend the evening booing the designated antagonist, but it is important to keep pantomimes fresh and exciting for repeat audiences, so I appreciated the creative team taking a different approach.
This time I found the panto’s renowned energy to be heavily weighted towards the second act, with the comedy material a little slow starting in places. That being said, I am pleased to say the annual sketches are all back in full force (including the wheelbarrow of puns) and the more comfortable the performers are with the audience, the more the show goes from strength to strength. It is a tricky balance to get right, but what is clear is there is much more opportunity to appreciate the pop culture references within the show. This is not limited to Bougie the candlestick’s links to Scotland (cue a catchy Proclaimers song), breakdancing at the Olympics and Madame Fillop’s Top Gun dreams. For the musical theatre fans, a ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ anthem is included and the timing could not be more appropriate with the musical’s arrival in Kent next year.
Beauty… but a feminist?
Beauty (Maisie Smith) champions women being able to do things on their own without the help of a man, with an example being rescuing her own family from the Beast (Joseph Hewlett). From Beauty’s independence to the girl power mashup that features ‘Run the World (Girls)’ and ‘Survivor’, these references to empowerment, Simon Barnum’s fierce choreography and the underlying message of not being afraid to take on a challenge really resonated with me. I was thrilled to see such a strong female lead in this year’s panto, which undoubtedly will have inspired some of the young people watching.
On-stage relationships and cast performances
The cast’s rapport is so natural, initially displayed through the effortless camaraderie between maternal figure Madame Fillop (Ben Roddy) and son Phillipe Fillop (Phil Gallagher). Their partnership work and occasional off-script improvisation is nothing short of a joy, with the banter about how Mister Maker is “barely famous” being a notable highlight. Bougie (Tyler Collins) and Danton also easily slot into these comedic rhythms when the four performers appear collectively on stage.
Furthermore, the characters of Belle and Cupid (Jocasta Almgill) add plenty of dazzle and sparkle. Their version of ‘You Will Be Found’ with the Beast/Prince Henri is a really moving moment which is sure to warm the hearts of musical theatre fans. It is also an opportunity to witness ‘A Chorus Line’ star Jocasta’s vocal strength, off the back of the musical’s UK tour.
Another festive success at the Marlowe
I cannot summarise the overall 2024 Marlowe Panto experience without mentioning Chris Wong: the Musical Director for the past 30 years. Chris has a central role in some of the sketches this year and this is such a welcome surprise, reflecting how much the creative team value loyalty and tenure. Community really is the word that I would use to describe this annual show, with the Marlowe and Evolution Productions always focusing on how they can create a legendary pantomime for local audiences. ‘Beauty and the Beast’ runs until Sunday 12th January, with tickets available via the theatre’s website. You don’t want to miss another hilarious festive panto in Canterbury.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*My ticket and programme for ‘Beauty and the Beast’ were gifted in exchange for a review.
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