Snow White delights families at Crewe’s Lyceum Theatre

Dec 14 2011 by Will Harris, Crewe Chronicle

GOOD things come in small packages, or so they say.

And it’s true of this year’s Lyceum Theatre panto Snow White.

Selling to packed out audiences, the show sees a return to form for producers Imagine Theatre, who appear to have found a winning formula for the South Cheshire panto lover.

Plenty of the show’s first half is story telling and scene setting, which admittedly requires a certain amount of patience.

But it’s at the appearance of the seven dwarfs that the show really kicks into life as their colourful costumes guarantee to delight the little ’uns.

The children within the costumes and beneath the masks play a blinder, ably acting out the adult voice-overs for their parts.

You sense a change of direction at this juncture, as the cast depart from the script and get ad-libbing to excellent effect.

Mark Siney as Dame Bree Brightshine is hilarious, sparking off Ste Johnston’s Will the Jester.

Excellent support is provided by Jennifer-Jayne Stone in the title role, while Tania Foley is dastardly as the Wicked Queen.

And an honourable mention must go to Howard Gossington, who demonstrates an obvious flair for panto as the cowering Sir Richard Darling.