Northern Echo Snow White Review

Public safety is our priority. Please remember we do not permit backpacks or large bags and you will be screened upon arrival. Read more about our safety policy here Read more

Posted on 22 December 2021

We all know the story of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs – and the jealous, wicked queen who tries to kill the ‘fairest of them all’ – but the art of pantomime is trying to retell a much told story in an entertaining and original way.

This version at Whitley Bay Playhouse sticks to tradition and works well because of lots of popular local references and Linda Lusardi who plays the evil Queen Scowlalot. Well named, she’s a veteran of the baddie role, and got the children booing and hissing throughout. It was a terrific performance. There was something vaguely familiar about Snow White, played by Lucy Kane. Closer inspection showed that Kane, who rose to fame in The Voice, is indeed the real-life daughter of Lusardi. Together they make a formidable pair.

There’s no high-tech gimmickry in the show – apart from a magic mirror – so it’s dependent on a slick team which also includes Andrew McLeish (Prince McCharming), the seven dwarfs and an ensemble of dancers. Of course no pantomime is complete without the laughs. Steve Walls as Muddles provides non-stop jokes and possesses a singing voice that helps keep the story moving along nicely. Walls linked up in comic attack with the dame, Daniel Mawston (Patsy the Cook), in a nice partnership. Set pieces involving custard pies, and a song about what they would be doing if they weren’t in panto garnered laughs but the high point was the well executed ghost scene near the finale, during which the children (old and young) were screaming “it’s behind you”. That excitement set up the wedding and a high-octane 1980s megamix singalong finale featuring the all-clapping, all-dancing capacity crowd.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at Whitley Bay Playhouse until January 2. For tickets visit https://tinyurl.com/ct6esffv