Beauty & The Beast Pantomime – Cloc Musical Theatre Company
Sutton Coldfield Town Hall
Monday 6th February 2023 – Dress Rehearsal
By Nigel Gambles
Photography – Nigel Gambles Photography
Cloc Musical theatre, are back at Sutton Town Hall with their annual pantomime this years offering is Beauty and The Beast.
Not to be confused with the Disney version, the story tells of the love of Belle (Beauty) played wonderfully by Sophia Powers for a Prince (Erin Mooney) who has been transformed into a Beast (Graham Halliday) by a wicked sorceress, scorned by the Prince’s rejection of marriage. If he can find the love of another, without revealing his true identity, before the last rose of summer withers and dies, then only will the spell be broken. Belle, whose father is imprisoned by the Beast, offers herself instead and discovers her captor to be her true love. Set in and around the village of Franglais de la Mer, the pantomime introduces some interesting new characters. Among them are Belle’s too ugly (less glamorous) sisters – Brittany and Whitney played brilliantly by Hannah Muxlow and Charlene Walker- both greedy for cash and completely bent on improving their looks. To help them – Marcel and Monique – joint owners of the local beauty salon where all sorts of fun and frolics take place when the sisters turn up for their weekly therapy I have say at this point that for me Hannah playing Brittany stole every scene she was in.
The show is filled with some great toe tapping songs and plenty of audience participation. This crazy comedy is just what is needed to cheer you up on these dark winter days.
