Sleeping Beauty is the Pantomime of choice showing at Bournemouth Pavilion this year and runs up until 6th January 2019. It has all the ingredients of a rich and fruity Christmas cake! The evil Carabosse is beautifully performed by Eastenders’ Rita Simons, who adds a shot of naughtiness to the mix; the nutty moments are offered up by ‘Silly Billy’ and Nursie, but it’s the special effects and audience participation that makes it perfect for all occasions. The icing on the cake was the resounding ‘boos’ from the Bournemouth audience who absolutely loved the baddie, in the guise of the outrageous Rita Simons.
Rita recently returned from her demanding stint in the jungle on I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here and there were a few funny innuendos thrown in for good measure.
This Pantomime portrays everything that embraces Christmas, from comedic moments, to the amazing magic from the pyrotechnics, plus special effects and a happy ending. The costumes, set, light and sound were first-class and I do believe this is the Pavilion’s best Pantomime to date.
The show’s cast performed to a full house and charmingly entertained all ages with popular renditions of hit songs from ‘The Greatest Showman’ to kids’ favourite ‘Baby Shark’, complete with all the moves. The first-half is 1.5hours long and is jam-packed with action, portraying the traditional tale of Sleeping Beauty, portrayed by Panto favourite, Milkshake’s very own Olivia Birchenough.
There were whispers amongst the audience that there was a King in the audience (as well as on the stage) but I personally didn’t spot Harry Redknapp anywhere, although he did promise to see Rita perform and bring her a coffee!
Don’t miss this show, as I assure you that you will come away feeling festive and impressed by the quality of show provided courtesy of UK Productions.
To book tickets, go to www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk
Janey On The Move 