Beauty and the Beast
25 to 27 November 2016

Read a review of this show by Tessa Davies
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​Director & Choreographer–         Louise Hunt    
Musical Director –             Andrew Lindfield

Performed at Ingatestone Community Theatre on Friday 25 November 2016 at 7.30pm               

This youth group continues to flourish and their annual pantomime was another great show.  Director Louise Hunt does get the very best out of the children, they are well drilled as a chorus and MD Andrew Lindfield has got them to sing out with great enthusiasm.

It’s a simple tale, well told with lovely scenery, excellent costumes and a great cast.  Rose Whitwam (Beauty) continues to show her talent and her singing is lovely.  Peter Angeli (Beast/Prince) in his last production with Young Expressions, played the dual role extremely well.  His singing was a little hesitant but it cannot be easy singing with a half mask on!  James Ravenscroft (Madam Bidet) displayed all the confidence you would wish for.  Playing the Dame part in any panto is not as easy as it looks and he gave an excellent performance.  Elena Noguchi was very good as Danton, although I do wish she had tied those bits of hair back.  It didn’t add to the character when she had to keep sweeping them off her face.  

The rest of the Principals all performed extremely well, they were Tyler Payne (Alphonse) Ella Fowle (Jacques) Amelia Aston-Jobin (Baroness) Melina Angeli (Enchantress) also in her last performance with the company and, finally, George Knight as Bob, it’s an absolute delight to watch George perform, his exuberance is catching! 

The scenery was beautiful and the costumes are lovely, Young Expressions excel at providing good costumes for the cast, that must make them feel great on stage.  The transformation scene (when the beast reverts to the Prince) was very well done, I knew what was happening but a lot of the audience didn’t and it was a lovely surprise for them when the Prince emerged as if by magic.

Another excellent production from Young Expressions, they continue to bring on new cast members and, even though the older ones have left the company, it remains strong, enabling more children to develop these important skills of confidence and performance.  I always enjoy seeing their shows and this was no exception.

Tessa Davies