Centre Stage Theatre

…funny script, hilarious characters, lavish scenery and costumes and with a smattering of well-known songs…

(Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser)

The Reviews

Like many big city pantomimes featuring stars from the soaps, The Muckle Toon pantomime this year went one better, featuring a cast from The Dale, The Square and The Street (Eskdale, Buccleuch Square and Henry Street).

With a funny script, hilarious characters, lavish scenery and costumes and with a smattering of well-known songs, a sing-along featuring musicians Christine Calvert and Henry Jeffrey from the Toon Band playing the kazoo, the audience were always only a few seconds away from the next laugh or groan.

The much-loved story tells of Snow White who, with the help of seven funny little and not so little friends, overcame the wicked Queen Evilynn, played by Alison Hutton, who showed her mastery of character acting, never missing an appropriate response to the many heckles from the audience.

Sarah Dhesi as the Magical Mirror appeared on command to deliver her witty and well-timed comments to the Queen, only to reveal herself as an imprisoned Avon Lady.

Leona Evans was a charming Show White, singing magnificently with Daniel Scott, the handsome Prince Valiant.

The Seven Dwarfs – Darren Bell, Katrina Edmond, Lloyd Johnstone, Christopher Tait, Ellie Hotson, Craig Pool and Owen Scott – scored a big hit with sound, animated acting, playing the characters well, albeit with a twist as the tallest dwarf was six feet tall.

Lindsay Cumming, as Fairy Flora, linked the scenes with her ethereal beauty and great connection with the younger audience. Les Murray again donned his splendid frocks playing Dame Clarissa the Cook and with Hazel Jeffrey as Muddles, her silly son, they kept the laughs coming with their silly antics, slapstick and hilarious rapport with audience.

The younger cast members delighted in a woodland creature scene with their cute insect costumes. The numbers included a stylised Thriller dance, with the dancers in oversized white overalls, and the Monster Mash which included a 10-foot tall fluorescent monster at the grand village opening scene in front of the Muckle Toon backcloth.

In such a big production it was good to see all cast members playing a part with enjoyment, whatever their age or experience. With more than 40 enthusiastic actors on stage for the big show numbers, they danced well and sounded great. Hannah Cumming did well as choreographer.

The scenery looked magical, creating a big stage feel to the Buccleuch Centre. The costume team worked hard to produce such lavish detail. There were more than 30 in the production team so this was no small town effort.

The principals were polished and the dance routines well done. Those in supporting roles showed great enthusiasm and everyone had clearly worked hard on their parts.

Director Judith Johnson and producer Chris Jones said: “A show of this scale can be successful only when there is a team of talented people working long hours to support those on stage. Everyone involved in the show has shown fantastic commitment and enthusiasm embracing true community theatre spirit.

“The pantomime attracted a bigger audience from outside the area so the team were very proud of everyone for creating a great show that would grace the stage of much larger towns. Well done Langholm.”

The music coach was Clare Smeaton and costume superviser Tricia Little