Review: Goldilocks & the Three Bears
Forget Advent calendars, my countdown to Christmas begins with the New Wolsey panto. For those who have never ventured to the theatre at Christmas-time you don’t know what you’ve been missing.
The New Wolsey take traditional pantomime and add their own special twist, in the form of a rock n roll panto and this year getting the Wolsey treatment is Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
A cast of eleven of the most talented actor-singer-musicians you will find take us to panto land with lots of fun, jokes for all the family (some will go over little ones’s heads) and a soundtrack of brilliant songs.
You will find yourself singing along as all the songs are well known, Always on My Mind, Shake it Off, Living on a Prayer and many more woven into the storyline (some with very tenuous links!). Listen carefully and you will occasionally hear slightly re-written lyrics with a local feel!
The story centres around Goldilocks (Lucy Wells) and her mother and struggling circus owner Dame Belinda Big Top (Steve Simmonds making a return as this year’s dame). Things are tough and so Goldilocks is forced to work for a rival circus run by the evil Wilberforce T. Whippum (Richard Costello – recently seen at the same theatre in Trio).
There’s all the fun of the big top, tumblers, a clown and a variety of animals plus of course the titular Three Bears.
Despite being set in a circus the traditional tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears loved by children is included but there’s lots more too.
The whole cast are top notch, the singing always impresses me, Lucy Wells is terrific, and special mention for Elizabeth Rowe, not only a good singer but is there any instrument this young lady can’t play?
Luke Thornton as Bobo the clown not only an impressive guitarist but amazing voice.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears is written and directed by the very talented Peter Rowe who has been behind the previous rock n roll pantos.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears runs until 28th January
Don’t get caught out like the Bears and find somebody sitting in your seat, book your tickets now at www.wolseytheatre.co.uk.
Review: Mark Keable – Ipswich24 Magazine
Pictures: Mike Kwasniak
