By Josh Holmes-Bright
MALDON Pantomime Society is halfway through their run of performances at Maldon Town Hall for their adaptation of King Arthur.
Caroline Coastal FM presenter Ellie Boyce was in attendance for the evening performance on Saturday. Her review reads:
"With great music and hilarious comedy, this show will be an unforgettable evening for the whole audience.
"The show begins with Merlin (Andee Byford) sharing his magic with the audience. Andee presents a character that everyone immediately loves, but he falls into trouble when he casts a spell on his sword, and it can't be removed from the stone!
"This one-of-a-kind pantomime includes the Knights of the Round Table - who boost the performance's great sense of humour - in Sir Lancelot (Mark Humphreys), Sir Jog-a-lot (Clare Shaw) and Sir Sleep-a-lot (Andrea Dalton). The trio embarks on many adventures throughout the performance, which is gripping from start to finish.
"At only 16-years-old, Jess Gill handles the role of ‘Juggles the Jester' sensationally, leaving the audience no choice but to laugh out loud with every cheesy joke told, and interacting with them to produce some highly memorable moments!
"Not all characters liked Juggles' jokes though! Morgana the Sorceress (Andrea Miles) attempts to get in the way of the other characters with the help of and her assistant Mordred (Lisa Wakely and Felicity Wylie).
"King Arthur cannot go ahead without Arthur himself; with cross-gender casting, Becca Palmer played the role of the protagonist and demonstrated her versatility in the character's different bonds - including the love interest Guinevere (Emily Beasley).
"And, of course, no good pantomime is complete without the beloved Dame! Steve Williams performed Patty Pudding incredibly - especially at just 21-years-old... or so she claims!
"The show included a vast range of ensemble characters and ‘royal pages’ - and even children from the age of nine who performed some fantastic dances.
"The fantastic director Jamie-Leigh Royan wasn’t just a director - she featured in a scene of her ow, multi-rolling characters and showcasing her sensational skills of multi-tasking with a number of responsibilities across the production.
"With two nieces suffering from Cockayne Syndrome, Jamie-Leigh chose the charity closest to her heart in 'Amy and Friends' for all the proceedings to be donated. The charity helps families get the right funds for the life-limiting condition.
"You cannot forget about the background work! Backstage crew with the constant changing of set, front-of-house staff with their warm welcomes, the band who played throughout the entire show, and the sound team all contributed to a wonderful performance.
"This show is amazing to see, and I would like to thank the cast for the opportunity to watch and review an unforgettable performance!"
It's not too late to go and see the show for yourself! Tickets for the final three performances - which take place on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th January - can be purchased here.
Excellent review by young Ellie Boyce.
Great production for the local Maldon community.