SNOW WHITE PANTO AT THE JUNCTION
Chorus photographs by Claire Haigh
What a brilliant panto on offer at the Junction this year. Dash down there for a refreshing re-boot of Snow White. The company, an amalgam of talent from Britain and Europe make a marvellous job of a story set in the dark unknown forests of deepest, who knows where. This production is crammed with musical expertise – where else can you see – and hear – accordion, timpani, trombone, saxophone combine to create an ingenious atmosphere of fun – and dread.
Stefanie Mueller as the Stepmother photo by Claire Haigh
Director Alex Byrne wants to explore the mother/daughter rivalry at the heart of this ancient drama . We never get as close to the classic Wicked Stepmother as this. Staphanie Mueller is the star of the show. Her tantrums, her conniving character, her hypocrisy all chime with the usual idea of Snow White’s jealous rival. But this depiction goes deeper – and funnier – into the fear of ageing, the futility of a fight for eternal youth . As Mama ( as she wants Snow White to call her) plunges through the magic mirror she confronts the creepy chorus of her desires. Until of course they fail. It is her stepdaughter the fairest in the land. This stepmother is chillingly cold blooded . Yet the subtle text only hints at her horrible plans until she can contain them no longer and dances demonically in the rage of jealousy.
The panto is terrific. Gruesome enough for the classic story but packed with fun jokes even around the stepmother’s lethal evil.
Once in the forest, Snow White meets the team of mostly unworldly vegan Utopians who are determined to save the planet, do no harm and live life their own way. Admittedly despite their fun characters this is rather over-long with no fewer than the classic three attempts on Snow White’s life, her real name is Julia by the way. Children will love the slapstick Caleb ‘s blundering and the ‘ behind you’ phase of the Stepmother – real name Ecaterina – murderous antics.Lovable Jacob ‘ the under wood cutter with the dreadful mission to ‘do Snow White in” is played with wonderful sincerity by Abayomi Oniyide.Warm-hearrted Cariad is a lovely natured Alex Murdoch,Joey Hickman gives us a massively nuanced and very clever Caleb, whilst Samantha Sutherland is a lovely Leslie and brilliant bass player. Megan Vaughan-Thomas makes a classic sweet but independent Snow White with so many appealing features it is impossibly not to fall in love with her.
Lots of excellent music but why not more singalong with the audience, my only gripe! And the lack of an interval. But these actors are true professionals and have us quite convinced their eccentric antics are the real deal.
Hugely recommended and brilliantly performed.
Well done the Junction !
Samatha Sutherland, Alex Murdoch Megan Vaughan-Thomas,Abayomi Oniyide
Photos all by Claire Haigh
