Review: Sleeping Beauty at Esher Theatre

Esher’s Sleeping Beauty mixes classic ‘it’s behind you’ tomfoolery, with slapstick humour and its fair share of adult jokes. 

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OUR VERDICT

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Esher Theatre

Written by and starring TV comedy veteran Bobby Davro, this year's panto at Esher Theatre steers the audience through cheeky schoolboy humour and audience interaction, leaving both adults and children alike shouting “oh no he didn’t” and “he’s behind you”.

Davro – who has a fantastic repertoire of impressions ranging from Alan Carr and Michael McIntyre to a heavily-fringed Claudia Winkleman – smashes the good old panto nonsense, with an on-the-pulse modern twist. He truly owns the stage, ‘joshing’ with cast and audience alike, in what often feels more like a stand-up routine.

No panto would be complete without a dame, and Mark Bradford – returning to Esher Theatre for his third consecutive panto – offers a hilarious Nanny Nora.

The children’s ensemble – members of G&S Performing Arts which is affiliated with Esher Theatre – provides a sweet and surprisingly dynamic addition to the high-energy, professional dance routines. A mix of nostalgia and pop scores includes Bewitched’s ‘C’est La Vie’, Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’, and the iconic Friends theme ‘I’ll Be There For You’.

There's plenty going on, including a fantastic crowd-pleasing (and soaking!) action scene when the cast descends on the audience armed with water guns and confetti.

On opening night,  the combination of scripted and unscripted chaos – with ad-libs and real slip-ups – had the audience laughing with (and, admittedly sometimes at) the cast on-stage. The occasional tech blunder – and odd word of profanity from the side-stage – added to the fun.  All in all, it’s an excellent all-rounder to get you in the Christmas spirit!