As you make your way along Penge High Street, the Christmas lights strung across the road say “Merry Pengemas”, for the southeast London suburb which styles itself as the cultural hub of the area, has a sense of humour and so does the space at the centre of that hub, The Bridge House Theatre which is proving it again with their annual panto, which this year is the very funny Sleeping Beauty.
I usually try and start my reviews with the plot but hey, this is Sleeping Beauty and if you don’t know the plot, where have you been the past hundred years or so? Suffice it to say, this version sticks mainly to the tried and tested story with a modern twist or two, and great fun it is too. If you haven’t been to the Bridge House Theatre, then why not? Situated above a very warm and welcoming pub, it’s a tiny space but it too is warm and welcoming. The script as usual is written by the theatre’s Artistic Director Luke Adamson who also directs, plays three parts (Willy Wetlettuce, King Tootandcomein and Fairy Average), has helped do the sound, lighting and video design and if you gave him a mop, he’d probably clean the floor as well! However, in this case, he doesn’t have to as that’s done after the very messy cake-making, “slosh” scene by his partner in crime, Associate Director Joseph Lindoe who has also helped design the sound, lighting and video and brought on the props – this panto doesn’t quite have the same budget as the one at the London Palladium!
The rest of the cast is fleshed out by Brendan Matthews as Dame Dirty Gertie and I do mean fleshed out as he has a behind so wide it has its own postcode! Matthews who also choreographed the show, is a delight as the dame channelling the late Danny La Rue and there can be no bigger praise than that. Joining Adamson and Matthew are the lovely Georgina May Haley as both Princess Bella and Fairy Nice and Stefani Ariza as the evil Carabosse and her accomplice Sheryl The Crow (get it?) who’s a glove puppet operated and voiced by Ariza (and occasionally by Lindoe). And we also get a guest performance (albeit on video only) from George Lester who recently starred at the same venue in That Girl vs The World.
Along the way, we get the usual panto tropes with audience participation, the aforementioned “slosh” scene, although the “It’s behind you” scene is quickly dealt with by Adamson! We also get lots of songs such as “Get The Party Started”, “I’m Still Standing” and “What Kind Of Fool Am I” amongst others. There’s also a mash-up of “The Time Warp” with some other songs about time. We also get to go in Dr Who’s Tardis although the cast do ask if there’s anyone from the BBC in the audience as it doesn’t seem they’ve asked permission. As usual, the video design is superb as the space is too small to have sets flying in and out but the audience is transported to various locations via the big screen (well the projection onto the back wall). One of the locations is Clacton-On-Sea which gives Adamson the chance to have a pop at Nigel Farage as well as other political gags that are woven throughout the script.
Sleeping Beauty is a fun show as all pantos should be although at just over two hours long including an interval, it could do with a bit of trim if it wants to hold the attention of the younger audience members, which these days is probably about the length of a TikTok video. So, if you want a fun night out this festive season, this could be the panto for you. And as they say down there in South London, a very Merry Pengemas to one and all.
Review by Alan Fitter
CAST
Brendan Matthew – Dame Dirty Gertie
Georgina May Haley – Princess Bella / Fairy Nice
Luke Adamson – Willy Wetlettuce
Stefani Ariza – Carabosse
CREATIVE
Written and directed by Luke Adamson
Choreographer – Brendan Matthew
Lighting and Sound Design – JLA Productions
SLEEPING BEAUTY
The Bridge House Theatre, 2 High Street, Penge SE20 8RZ
17 to 30 December 2024
