This is a show which exudes quality and smooth sophistication – none of which stops the children falling off their seats in wand-waving glee and gales of laughter. We get dozens of witty original puns, terrific music led by charismatic Chris Wong, fabulous dinosaur puppets, Jurassic Park references, spectacular dancing from a lively ensemble of eight and a rather good set with quasi stained glass changing colour around the proscenium.

Ben Roddy, a much loved Marlowe regular, is at the top of his game. His Dame Nellie commands the stage for every moment he’s on it. He only has to raise an eyebrow, flick his mini crinoline to show his underwear or name his stooge in the front row to carry every audience member with him. If he isn’t yet running panto dame master-classes for young actors then it’s time he did.

New to me, and to the Marlowe panto, is the impressive Max Fulham whose excellent ventriloquism skills this show exploits to the full. Not only does he voice a monkey puppet (lots of attitude and quick fire dialogue) but there’s a sequence with a talking fly and a very funny scene in which he confronts the Dame’s front row temporary boyfriend and gives him a hilarious high pitched voice –  poor chap. But if you will buy front-row pantomime tickets …

Meanwhile Carrie Hope Fisher sings her heart out as Carrie-bosse and finds all the right jokey malevolence. As a seasoned musical theatre performer she’s quite an asset because, of course, although the humour and concepts in this show are very enjoyable the singing standards amongst the principals are patchy.

Other high spots include Ore Oduba (winner of Strictly Come Dancing Series 14 among other achievements) bringing rubber-bodied panache to a very slippery slosh scene, Ellie Kingdom being sweet but feisty as Princess Aurora and Jennie Dale’s homely Fairy Moonbeam.

I admire the way Paul Hendy manages to present a show which definitely ticks the traditional box but also feels fresh. The ghost “it’s behind you!”  scene, for example, is different with a lot of stage business involving revolving beds which works well. And, as ever, for me the very best thing in this Sleeping Beauty is the “Barrow of Pun” – this time featuring the names of musicals.

My “plus one” at this pantomime was an adult woman who hadn’t seen a professional one for decades. She couldn’t get over how funny it was and chuckled all the way home. That, and the response of the children bobbing excitedly around us, says it all really.

• 

  Ore Oduba, All photos: Pamela Raith Photography

• 

  Ellie Kingdon, Ore Oduba

• 

  Jennie Dale, Carrie Hope Fletcher

• 

  Jennie Dale

• 

  Carrie Hope Fletcher

• 

  Ben Roddy, Ore Oduba, Max Fulham

First published by Sardines: https://www.sardinesmagazine.co.uk/review/sleeping-beauty-18/