Spectacular January fun by Coventry drama group

YOU thought the panto season was over, didn’t you? Well – oh, no, it isn’t! And Abanazer’s Revenge provides lots of pantos all rolled into one, with the main aim for the post-Christmas spectacular being to involve as many people as possible.

On that score, as on so many it is a complete success. We have Sleeping Beauty (Katie Howes), Snow White (Amy Timms) and Princess Jasmine (Christine Rye) with their beaus Aladdin (Rebecca Keeves), Prince Charming (Jo Johanson) and Dick Whittington (Claire Stanbridge), plus cat (Lewis O’Hara) inhabiting the land of Insomnia - complete with sleepy head Emperor (Darren Bradshaw).

Abanazer (Adam Cherrington) and the Wicked Queen (Heather Evans) banish the lot to the land they can never remember – oh yes - Amnesia. Widow Twankey (how does he walk in those heels! - Chris Jarvis) and Wishee Washee (Jane Beeswarick) provide the funnies with a plot that includes throwing a retirement party for the fairy godmother (Anne Collins). Hats off to Widow Twankey, not only the shoed, but also for pulling off the William Tell menu gag – very funny – and, as ever, Jane Beeswarwick rules the stage.

Lovely songs – all beautifully selected and sung. Shame Aladdin had such a bad cold. I enjoyed the performance of the rather camp and disengaged mirror (Liam McCauley) and the argumentative genie (Wayne Woolley). The children-on-stage bit always does it for me and Jane Beeswarwick leading the singing was hysterical – the ‘Witch Doctor’. This is lovely stuff – the warmth of the welcome is just perfect to forget a rotten January day.

Jane Howard