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Review: Sleeping Beauty at the Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks, with Ricky Norwood, Fatboy in EastEnders

Everyone knows the story of the princess cursed at birth by a wicked fairy to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die only to have it revoked by a kind fairy to falling asleep until the princess is saved by true love’s first kiss.

But did you know that Princess Aurora had another who was madly and deeply in love with her, and that at school she was naughty?

With the Stag Theatre's panto, Sleeping Beauty, the stage is set by the three good fairies, pop trio Cleopatra in the opening number, followed by the appearance of the King (Richard Tate) and the nurse (Peter Brad-Leigh) who seemed to have a thing about her overly-large chest throughout the show. The baby princess is unceremoniously dumped into the crib and the good of the land come to bless the new baby.

Ricky Norwood, Fatboy in EastEnders, is in panto in Sevenoaks
Ricky Norwood, Fatboy in EastEnders, is in panto in Sevenoaks

Unfortunately they forgot to invite baddie Malevesis (excellently played by an under-study in this performance) who curses the baby.

Jump forward to Aurora’s (Annie Holland's) 18 birthday. Chester the Jester (EastEnders' Fatboy Ricky Norwood) has been tasked to make sure there are no spinning wheels in the castle. His banter with the audience comes naturally and the children love him. He is madly in love with the princess and has made her a special album of growing up together.

Ricky Norwood, star of the Stag Theatre's show this Christmas, being interviewed on kmfm
Ricky Norwood, star of the Stag Theatre's show this Christmas, being interviewed on kmfm

We flip back to the three very portly babies in the nursery – Aurora, Prince (Jamie Papanicolaou) and a reluctant Chester. He just will not play along with the others. The very young members of the audience could relate to this as its very reminiscent of The Night Garden/Teletubbies.

Then it's time for school and a very naughty prince and princess get poor Chester into all sorts of trouble. Back to the present and Malevesis tricks the princess and she pricks her finger. The three fairies put everyone to sleep but the prince is put under a spell by Malevesis who wants him for herself.

The spell is broken and the prince gets to wake the princess with a kiss.

Ricky with his funny and competent performance and Cleopatra with their music annd songs are the clear stars of the show and the reaction of the children proves it. My granddaughter even told me off when I wasn't clapping along to the music enough.

Even the Christmas cracker jokes were understood by the youngsters rather than over their heads which often happens at pantos. And even Trump made an appearance!

Lots of glittery costumes, the use of projection images instead of stage sets, and fantastic songs and music. A panto for the kids. When I asked one who her favourite was, she said "All of them."

Sleeping Beauty is running until Sunday, January 8. For tickets at £25, call 01732 450175 or go to sevenoakspanto.com or stagsevenoaks.co.uk

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