The Newchurch Drama Group panto is back! Oh yes it is! And although it’s only November (just!) it was fabulous fun taking part in all the familiar pantomime traditions along with this enthusiastic group – and the audience was just as enthusiastic, judging by the participation along the way and the applause at the end. And any show that starts with a rousing rendition of ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ gets my vote!!

The Hans Christian Andersen story of Princess and the Pea is not a common choice for a panto, but it provides all the traditional characters, given cleverly pea-related names. King Kelverdon and Queen Sugarsnap (Steve White and Ros White) are trying to persuade their wayward son Prince Legume, played as a perfect principal boy by Chris Turvey to marry – but every princess was rejected.

And as our delightful narrators Lorenzo and Parker told us, time was running short – if Legume didn’t have a bride by next harvest, the kingdom would fall into the hands of the King’s bickering baddie sisters Lady  Mildrew and Lady Maggoty (Glenys Lloyd Williams and Marilyn Bersey).

But what about the panto dame, I hear you ask? Step forward Lewis Pavey, who dominated the stage every time ‘she’ appeared as Mrs Marrowfat the palace cook, with her sidekick Mushy (Heather Johnson). Of course, there was the traditional hilariously messy cooking scene, and being captured by ghosts in the forest – all of which was greeted by gales of laughter from the audience.

The real star of the show for me was Ellie Pettifer as Princess Blossom who not only perfectly captured the beautiful, slightly ditsy princess on first appearing, only to emerge as the saviour of her beloved Prince as she escaped from the forest cottage in which she had been imprisoned by the baddie sisters and rescued him from the forest ghosts.

All of course ended well, with a wedding – and this is where Ellie showed her other talent – an amazing singing voice – as she belted out Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Holding Out for a Hero’. The ensemble supported the principal actors well, and the chorus numbers and choreography were a credit to Nick Turvey the MD (and minstrel!) and choreographer Clare Manning respectively. I understand this is Kerry Lawton’s first time as a director – she can be very proud of what she and her team have achieved. Mention also must go to the set construction team and all those backstage and front of house who brought this very successful pantomime to life. Just looking forward to the group’s next production now….