It’s February half term, so it must be time for the Wight Strollers’ annual pantomime! Oh yes it is! This year the talented troupe tackle Snow White, including all the characters from the fairy tale – Snow herself (cue lots of snow throwing), the handsome prince, evil stepmother and the forest-dwelling, less vertically-challenged than traditionally, group of miners who welcome our heroine into their home.

Panto tradition demands an evil villain, and stepmother Queen Cora fits the bill perfectly; Izzi Rudd as Cora drew boos (wrong – we should have hissed!) aplenty and demonstrated her singing and dancing skills as well as a very unexpected talent – her piercing scream! Her temper was indeed sorely tried as she attempted to force her Magic Mirror, played with humour by Elisa Jones (also the director) to tell her she was the fairest of them all.

Fairy Fie took on the traditional introduction to the show and popped up here and there to narrate and interfere: Kimberley Ritchie played her with light-hearted aplomb, but I have to say she was upstaged by the tiny pixies who danced and sang for us with amazing stage presence considering their ages.

As for the miners – we first saw the small people we expected as the mini-miners took the stage – again with cuteness and energy overload – to be replaced by adults Tiny, Grouchy, Stretch, Tick, Wheezy and Giggles….oh, and Colin. Clearly the black sheep/miner of the family, R Thornhill as Colin stole every scene he was in, possibly drawing more laughs than any other character, though a couple came very close…

Every panto needs its Dame, and as the tale of Snow White doesn’t provide one, the gap was filled by Dame Nora Virus, the castle’s housekeeper, cook and everything else. In the experienced hands of John Woodford, and wearing an amazing series of dresses, Nora flirted with audience members and was suitably outrageous. Trying to keep her in order and keep everyone happy (apart possibly from herself) was Chester the Jester, played with verve and energy by Rebecca Finch. Another stalwart of Strollers’ productions, Rebecca also brilliantly played the audience and silly jokes for maximum laughs.

The panto comedy double act was ably fulfilled by Kelly Hole and Ed Nash as Shifty and Nifty, the Queen’s henchmen. Their audience interaction was great and the scene with the fence was absolutely hilarious…through the prince didn’t seem to think so….

Every bit the thigh-slapping pantomime prince, Emily Scotcher’s vast stage experience shone though as Prince Fernando (yes, yes, we know…) arrived from the deepest darkest south (of the Island) to fall in love with and finally rescue Snow White. Emily’s ability to hold an audience spellbound with her beautiful singing voice was challenged as never before however in the aforementioned fence scene.

Snow White herself, portrayed by Maddison Hole, was a vision in a replica of the Disney dress, and displayed a lovely singing voice: her scenes with the Prince were particularly charming, and she deserves credit also for her ability to remain still and silent both when an audience member helpfully informed her friends, as they found her after she’s eaten the poisoned apple: ‘she’s dead!’ and also during the stage crew’s comic attempts to stretcher her off.

In fact, the stage crew participated in quite a few stage jokes and deserve their own acting credit! Live music from the small band enhanced the production, as did the technical expertise backstage and in the lighting/sound box; the costumes were also fabulous.

But as always with Strollers’ shows, the production rested just as much on the skills of the ensemble and dance troupe as on the principals, and as always they did not disappoint. From the polished first number through some demanding choreography, physical comedy and some individual cameo performances to the beautifully orchestrated finale, the standard was exactly what we have come to expect from The Wight Strollers. At the time of writing there are still a very few tickets left for next Saturday’s performance – matinees are sold out – so if you can, grab one now: The Wight Strollers Pantomime – Snow White | Medina Theatre.

Here’s to next year’s pantomime – and in the meantime, tickets are now on sale for the Strollers’ new musical, ‘Sweet Charity’ in July: https://www.medinatheatre.co.uk/article/sweet-charity-musical