When the wicked fairy casts a deadly spell on Princess Beauty the poor girl is doomed to sleep for a hundred years. Only the kiss of her one true love can break the spell. Which means that Beauty's bravest and closest friends must battle to rescue the dashing Prince before it's too late! He, and he alone, can save the Sleeping Beauty! Read more …
This year's dream cast features panto favourite Karen Dunbar who returns as Nanny, Gregory's Girl star Clare Grogan as the wicked fairy Carabosse with Rab C Nesbitt star Tony Roper as her evil Henchman Hector, River City's Lorna Anderson as Princess Beauty, panto funny man Steven McNicoll as The King, stage and screen star Kath Howden as the Queen and topping off the panto dream team we are delighted to welcome back Joseph star Keith Jack, whom audiences will remember from Aladdin, as our handsome prince.
It's a romantic, thrill-filled, laugh-a-minute extravaganza so whatever you do, don't miss this year's Sleeping Beauty at the King's. It just might be the panto of your dreams!
Nanny more than saves the day and sends everyone home happy.
Sleeping Beauty is a vivid and memorable dream of a pantomime, full of lucid comic performances and a hard-working cast which never snoozes on the job.
Tony Cownie's rollicking production.
With countless songs from just about everyone, dance routines, bouts of patter plus a plot, a bit of magic, and more songs, this stretches into an over-long show. But the assembled team definitely is a winner – maybe the start of traditions to come at the King's?
This balance of sentiment and comedy prevents pantomime fun from overwhelming the heart-warming story - the triumph of love over cunning and evil makes for a rousing finale. The King’s pantomime remains the benchmark for Glasgow’s seasonal shows, with strong performances and a knowing, warm script.
The show is full of the customary King's generosity, raucousness and joy and, in Eric Potts's script, it has proper respect for the story, but it doesn't hit that extra level of sublime silliness of which this team is capable.
If you add to the mix a script almost entirely bereft both of good new comedy material and of real local satire, you have a tired-looking panto, that struggles to achieve a festive mood. It succeeds in the end, thanks to a fine comic turn by Steven McNicoll and Kathryn Howden as the King and Queen, and some hard work by Dunbar and Usher, who keep the show on the road.
Sadly, too many Michelin star chefs ruin this Scotch broth leaving this Sleeping Beauty lacking direction and punch.
Clare reveals she has a wicked side.
King's Theatre, Glasgow from Friday December 2, 2011, until Sunday January 8, 2012. More info: www.theambassadors.com/kings/
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