Beauty and the Beast. The Rock 'n' Roll Panto

The first sign of Christmas in Mold is a flash of light, a rhyming fairy and the crash of drums and guitars as writer-director Peter Rowe launches another rock panto.

A special word for the rhyming fairy. Wendy Parkin has a lot of plot to cover in her many appearances and never once does she lose the audience's attention, thanks to her bubbly personality and impeccably witty delivery.

It's all here; the outrageous dame (Phylip Harries, one of the best there is), the lovelorn fool (Daniel Lloyd who's also a smashing singer), the harassed father (excellent Martin George), the blindingly colourful sets and costumes (Judith Croft), the dreadful puns (everyone) and always the rock standards that provide the drive and the emotional heart.

Heartbreaking, yearning romance is not something I've often experienced in panto but as Tara Nelson's delightful Beauty and Stephen Ashfield's powerful and wonderfully sung Beast seem to be parted forever, I had a hint of tears in my eyes.

This is panto, fairy tale, rock concert and love story all rolled into one. It's also one of the best (and loudest) pieces of high energy musical theatre you could ever wish to see, an authentic family treat.

Production information
By: Peter Rowe, who also directs
Management: Clwyd Theatr Cymru
Cast: Phylip Harries, Jane Milligan, Wendy Parkin, Martin George, Daniel Lloyd, Stephen Ashfield, Martyn George, Nick Lashbrook, Dyfrig Morris, Tara Nelson, Vikki Stone
Design: Judith Croft
Sound: Kevin Heyes
Lighting: Richard G Jones
Choreography: Francesca Jaynes
Musical direction: Greg Palmer
Production information can change over the run of the show.
Run sheet
Clwyd Theatr Cymru Mold November 24 2006-January 27 2007

Victor Hallett