Act Reviews 2024 / 2025 Season

comedic moments. Evelyn Beresford also impressed with her strong projection, adding to the laughs and atmosphere with her well executed portrayal of Sheryl. One of the comedic highlights of the production came during a scene in which Nightshade applies for a job with the Prince. The absurdity of the witch's application, including the pun "Steak and Kiddie pie," was a hit with the audience, and Lee's expressive gestures and sneaky expressions only added to the humour. The character of Wally, the comic "silly billy," was played by Evie Etches, who excelled in her role as the goofy sidekick. Evie's timing was impeccable, and her ability to engage with the audience made her a great performer. Every time she interacted with the crowd, the response was immediate, as she knew exactly how to push the audience for bigger reactions. Evie's performance was playful and energetic. Albie Nightingale, playing the Dame Peggy Pumpernickel, was another revelation. Though it was his first time taking on a dame role, Albie's performance was full of energy, comedic timing, and confidence. His opening number set the tone for his character, and his ability to work with the audience was remarkable. Albie's physical comedy, especially his repeated use of a door knocker prop, kept the audience in stitches, and his strong accent and delivery made the Dame a memorable presence throughout the show. The supporting characters also contributed greatly to the success of the production. Lexi-Marie Shaw and Leo Husband, playing the parents of Hansel and Gretel, Hildegard and Fritz, had great chemistry and comedic timing. Their portrayals of the stereotypical overbearing mother and fed-up father added an extra layer of humour to the show. Lexi-Marie's diction and projection were particularly strong, and her delivery was full of purpose and conviction. Leo's quirky portrayal of Fritz, full of funny mannerisms and eccentric lines, was appreciated by the audience, resulting in lots of laughs for the pair. Michael Brickell took on the role of Prince Johann and gave a good performance, with his royal thigh-slap in the finale. While I would have liked to see this energy carried throughout the performance, his overall delivery and projection were solid. As his aide, Wolfgang, Matthew Millers (in his debut performance) worked well alongside Brickell, demonstrating impressive movement, posture, and mannerisms. I look forward to seeing Matthew in future roles where he can further explore his newfound passion for acting and experiment with different accents and vocal tones. A special mention goes to Mason Sherratt (also in his debut performance}, who brought a great sense of intention and passion to his lines, clearly enjoying his time on stage. His diction was superb, and he truly shone in his role. Bella Bunting played Heather, a minor but important character in the story. While her posture and movement were strong, I'd like to see Bella gain more experience

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODU3MzQ=