Wednesday 22 December 2010

Review (4)

Basingstoke's Anvil is home this Christmas, as usual, to a traditional panto story. Sleeping Beauty offers the elements that we are all used to with good and bad fairies (in the hands of a couple of stars), a dame and a pair of young lovers. With the good folk of the village played by local youngsters and a whole load of jokes about X-factor and Strictly Come Dancing, this show faithfully touches all the bases...
Nick Wilton provides a bustling Nurse Nelly with more than a bit of a bruiser about her (and) outfits satisfactorily outrageous and over the top.


http://www.reviewsgate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5401

Friday 17 December 2010

Review (3)

UK Productions has always provided conventional pantomimes and this year’s traditional offering at the Anvil has the long established stamp of habitual routine all over it. And if the format works, why not? It’s fun, lively, colourful and has enough audience participation and euphemistic gags to satisfy both children and adults respectively.
There is an almost manic obsession to include every traditional aspect of panto, from those age-old routines of the echo trick, the mirror ‘ballet’ and kitchen slapstick, but it is also deeply satisfying that these well-loved veteran novelties of our great British theatre are upheld.
Wendy Craig is perfect as the Good Fairy with Andrew Agnew working enthusiastically as Silly Billy, Nick Wilton as an excellent Nurse Nelly and Michael Chance as the comical King.


http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/30659/sleeping-beauty

Review (2)

The Anvil's pantomime is a true festive feast of fun for all the family. Director Maurice Lane's Sleeping Beauty is a spectacular show filled with dazzling special effects, beautiful costumes and a dream cast.
Every panto needs a Dame and Nick Wilton was the superlative Nurse Nelly with the most outlandish costumes and so many of them. The rapport between Silly Billy and Nelly was effervescent.


http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/sbeautyanvil-rev.htm

Sunday 12 December 2010

Panto Review

The undoubted stars of this piece are Nick Wilton’s dame, Nurse Nelly, and Silly Billy, played by Andrew Agnew (known to kiddies up and down the land as PC Plum from CBeebies Balamory).
The pair work tirelessly to wring every bit of comedy from (the) script, with a nice bit of business with a mirror and by launching themselves into the audience, bringing some much needed energy to proceedings.



Up & Running

Last two shows of the week today. Nice review from Whatsonstage even though they came to 10.30 (Schools) show on our second day.
Looking forward to a going home for a couple of hours  - I'll get back about 11.00pm tonight and will have to head back to Basingstoke Monday afternoon for 10.30am show Tuesday (Only three 10.30's left thankfully)