Review: Sleeping Beauty at the Crewe Lyceum

Dec 10 2009 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

SLEEPING BEAUTY/Lyceum Theatre, Crewe, until January 6

REVIEW/by Michael Green

TAKE a smattering of familiar faces, a healthy dose of music and dance and a dollop of broad humour and the result is a fun night out over the festive season at the Crewe Lyceum.

This show may not have the budget of some of its regional rivals but there is always a sense of fun that is infectious for the ever enthusiastic Cheshire audience.

Stealing the show and making sure the feelgood factor remains high throughout is the Dame herself Nanny Nora, played with macho gusto by the wonderful Leon Craig.

Craig doesn’t attempt for a nano second to create a facade of false femininity - his baritone booms out from the word go and he uses his generously proportioned frame to great comic effect.

He also revels in things going wrong especially during the messy cooking scene which is a staple of Lyceum pantos.

It was a particular highlight this year with Craig unintentionally sliding all over the stage and needing a member of the behind the scenes crew to intervene in helping Nick Dutton’s Josh the Jester lift the Dame back to his feet.

The show’s TV friendly headliners were all on form including Heartbeat’s David Lonsdale as King Bumble, children’s favourite Kerry Newall as an athletic Prince Valiant and Rainbow legend Jane Tucker as youthful as ever as good fairy Azuriel.

Sleeping Beauty can be seen at the Crewe Lyceujm until January 10.

For tickets, priced from £10.50-£17.50, call the box office on 01270 537333 or visit www.lyceumtheatre.net.