Hurst Pantomime Group
Snow White
A review by Sue Corcoran

Banter and heckling from the audience reached a new rollicking high as audiences entered into the spirit of Hurst’s panto Snow White. Hurst Pantomime Group’s production had all the magic ingredients of a traditional panto along with buckets of talent, enthusiasm and liveliness.

Every one of the cast shone. Florence Tavener, just 13 years old, had a calm confidence and strong but sweet voice. Judith Boulton had excellent timing and diction as the wicked Queen Maligna. She expertly bounced back audience banter with witty ad libs.

Jo Penney has cornered the market in fairy godmothers. Her portrayal of Fairy Thistledown’s gentle commonsense was a worthy successor to her part in the group’s Cinderella two years ago.

A talented threesome of Brian Colman (also of HVS fame) as Chuckles, Tim Taylor as Dame Goodheart and Tony Pouncey as Alonzo, provided much merriment as they romped through the show. Laura Hiles was a strong and dashing Prince Michael who went on of course to win his bride. Keith Milner played a menacing Black-hearted Jake.

Lightning the pantomime horse was a triumph. Rod King and John Penney, inside the skin, managed to convey an amazingly wide range of emotions - and create many laughs.

The seven miners, as the dwarves were dubbed for the show, were played by Georgia Leigh, Holly Briggs, Victoria Timmins, Rebecca Boulton, Ryan Marner, Phoebe Leigh and Ben Connor. Their strong acting and singing skills were among the panto’s highlights.

Director Peter Stallwood, a former artistic director of Wokingham Theatre, wove the cast together to produce a sparkling show that kept its pace going throughout. Steve Randall’s indefatigable work as musical director was highly effective.

The sets by Terry Bunyard, Eddie Coe (also of HVS fame), Geoff King, Carole King, Naomi Bassett and Jane Fiennes were excellent. Janet Larkin, Joyce and Beryl Spear, Susan Rockall and Jane Carr produced colourful and attractive costumes.

A whole army of other people were involved in many other roles behind the scenes for the panto which had four performances at Hurst Village Hall in January.

A power cut towards the end of the Friday evening performance was not allowed to spoil the show. Resourceful members of the lighting crew (including our own Duncan Kendall) and the audience shone torches onto the stage to make sure everyone could see the cast, undeterred, singing the final song.

This was the group’s second panto. It was a truly village event which the village will surely wish to see as a fixture in its calendar.

Hurst Pantomime Group ~ Epilogue

This was the second production from the Hurst Pantomime Group. The team learned a lot from the experience of its first production and made Snow White into an even more storming success.

Money from the profits made has been donated to the Wokingham Theatre, the 1st Hurst Scouts, St Nicholas School and the Twyford Branch of Feed the Children. Another performance is to be staged in two year’s time, with planning commencing early in 2006. Please visit the Group’s web site at www.hurstpanto.org.uk for more reviews, photos and details of the Group’s activities.