REVIEW: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Mayflower Theatre

With Christmas just around the corner that can only mean one thing! Panto season is officially back in Southampton – 

“Oh no it isn’t…”

… Oh yes it is, and Mayflower theatre have smashed it out of the park with ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’. Nothing screams pantomime more than Christopher Biggins in the most extravagant costumes, floating in a mirror on stage. Crossroads Pantomimes have gone all out once again, and you can tell why they’re the best in the business. Pantomimes happen up and down the country each year, but I don’t think many are on the same level as the Mayflower’s. Love them or hate them – but you can’t deny how impressive and how much fun ‘Snow White’ is. Be prepared for the audience participation, after all it wouldn’t be a pantomime without it would it?

“Oh no it wouldn’t!” (I promise this is the last one). 

Now I don’t actually think the story is all that important during a pantomime. Sure there needs to be a narrative for the flow of the show, but pantomimes are usually stories everybody would know even if they thought they didn’t. Director, ‘Thom Southerland’, has done an amazing job in bringing a star studded cast together to tell a story but make it engaging for the whole family. This year it actually felt like a Christmas pantomime, not just a pantomime that’s on at Christmas. As he said himself: “This year we’ve really embraced Christmas!”

Diversity were INCREDIBLE!

Everything about the show was big. Think big, and then scale it up a little bit more. The cast, the set, the costumes, the music, the effects, the comedy – all amazing! I love how everything tied together to bring us this big spectacle that kept you there literally every step of the way. The theming of the theatre was beautiful, it literally was like walking into a winter wonderland. 

But how can we not talk about the cast. The headline performers this year were Ashley Banjo & Diversity playing the roles of ‘Prince Ashley and his Guards’, as well as Christopher Biggins playing ‘The Man in the Mirror’. Diversity were INCREDIBLE! They bought a modern twist to a pantomime through dance and music, and I think it’s safe to say that everybody loved it. Not only did their legendary dances live up to expectation, but the comedy they managed to get across through certain pieces of choreography (avoiding spoilers) was brilliant. Diversity are world class and Southampton are extremely lucky to have them. Christopher Biggins brings the exact type of comedy you would expect from a seasoned pantomime veteran. He didn’t have an awful lot to do, but what he did have to do he did well (when he remembered which pantomime he was currently in!). However, I think the star of the show had to be Kev Orkian who played the role of ‘Muddles’. He not only controlled the audience brilliantly, he bounced off of every single character fantastically, basically walking us through the whole pantomime. He was just hilarious. I genuinely don’t think that I have heard a whole audience continuously laugh at one man, whatever age they were – including myself. Whether it be scripted or ad-lib, smart or slapstick, his comedic value was priceless. Another man that Southampton are very lucky to have. 

Everyone involved was superb, even the poor audience members that became part of the show!

I think the whole cast were superb. The dancers were amazing, especially having to the share the stage with one of (if not the biggest) dance groups in the world. ‘The Magnificent Seven’ were also fantastic. ‘Snow White’ herself, Kirsty Ingram was incredibly talented, singing can usually get overlooked in a pantomime but what a voice! And it wouldn’t be much of a pantomime without a villain would it? Rachel Stanley, had to take in all the boos as ‘Queen Dragonella’, and the way she played with the audience was excellent. Everyone involved was superb, even the poor audience members that became part of the show (*cough cough* Michael). 

Now let’s talk about the set and lighting. WOW! The set was incredible. As I mentioned earlier, imagine big and then scale it up. It was bright, it was grand, it was exactly what I imagine walking into a fairytale would look like. Can’t get much better than that. Paired with the lighting, which again was bright, colourful and extremely well thought out – they had created theatre magic. To take theatre magic to the extreme, Mayflower and Crossroads Pantomimes paired up with The Twins FX special effects company again, and they never fail to disappoint. The Twins FX effects are phenomenal and for this panto to have not one, but two breathtaking effects (*Spoiler Alert*) in the form of a flying sleigh over the audience and a life size dragon – it was just breathtaking. The costumes were dazzling and shining, and the use of pyrotechnics elevated the production of the show even further. 

Pantomimes may not be your thing (Scrooge), but I would bet money that you’d be laughing along and leaving Mayflower Theatre ready for Christmas.

When it comes to the music, as I mentioned earlier in a pantomime it’s at danger of becoming overlooked but I don’t think you could overlook it this time. I’ve said time and time before how much a live orchestra can add to any show, and I think this is a prime example of that. Anthony England (Musical Director) and his orchestra were fabulous. I like how they were clearly trying to modernise the pantomime, but still included some of the ‘Snow White’ classics like; ‘Heigh Ho’, ‘Whistle While You Work’, and ‘Someday My Prince Will Come’. There was a huge contrast of playing these, to playing Biggins’ ‘Man in the Mirror’ cover, and even Diversity’s entrance and dance numbers. I must mention Kev Orkian’s rendition of ‘I’m Still Standing’ as well was so…    beautiful? (But brilliant!) However, I think the real musical superstar was four year old Molly who’s rendition of ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ stole the hearts of the whole audience and was the real award winner! 

Overall this pantomime is incredibly impressive. Pantomimes may not be your thing (Scrooge), but I would bet money that you’d be laughing along and leaving Mayflower Theatre ready for Christmas. I don’t think they get much better than this really. The only thing that the show has left me asking is, “Mirror, Mirror on the wall – How can I rewatch them all perform?”. Unfortunately all good things must come to an end however, ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ is only at the Mayflower until the 31st of December – so get booked in now whilst you still can.