Puss in Boots, Bentley Village Hall
AUNTY Jen Productions brought the curtain down on their festive panto season with a knockout performance at a packed Bentley Village Hall.
Here was a bravura, joyful show, and the audience responded in kind, fully embracing the sheer blessed daftness of it all.
Set in old Amsterdam, there were laughs from start to finish, the whole performance a tribute to this multi-talented cast.
Indeed it’s little wonder this Studley-based troupe, now entering its fourth year, has played to sold out venues across its 23 shows during this run.
Where to begin – with the baddie of course! Lauren Ross as the evil King Rat had the audience booing as soon as she walked on stage, really delighting in the abuse and milking it for all it was worth.
Alex Bloor as love interest Tom Baker looked truly ridiculous dressed in the Christmas decorations, and boy could he dance.
Mike Baughan as Queen Gouda was a superb panto dame (and plaudits here for the small army of volunteer seamstresses who made all his stunning costumes) ably accompanied by the redoubtable Neville Cann as King Edam.
Their entrance, singing Tip Toe Through the Tulips, was an absolute hoot.
And talking of tulips, the multi-talented Nicolette Morgan was a wonderful Princess Tulip / Puss in Boots – she can dance, sing, act, the lot, absolutely brilliant.
At the centre of it all was Jen Rigby, Aunty Jen herself, playing the daft Dani Baker, keeping the jokes coming, fall gal for all the slapstick, dancing, singing, and leaving the audience stunned with her ‘Richard from Redditch’ tongue twister routine.
You may have already guessed but this reviewer loved this show.
In this run the company have performed Puss in Boots in care homes, village halls, a hotel and even before Ukrainian refugees.
They’ve put on workshops for local students and left delighted audiences in their wake.
There is something truly wonderful about local players putting on a professional show, and taking it on the road to local people across the region.
Well done to all.
Ross Crawford
