Mother Goose Harrogate Theatre
Directed by Lennox Greaves
Choreographed by Nick Winston

Friday 26 November 2004 – Saturday 8 January 2005

Squire Squelch - Frank Ellis
Fairy Feather - Rachael Louise Miller
Demon Nightshade - Tom Peters
Mother Goose - Adam Stafford
Muddles - Tim Steadman
Sam - Rebecca Stokes
Lily - Laura Strachan
Pricilla the Goose - Ashlie Warburton/ Stephanie Hill

Writer – Nicholas Pegg
Director – Lennox Greaves
Musical Director – Nick Lacey
Choreographer – Nick Winston
Designers – Neil Bray & Lucy Campbell
Lighting Designer – Alexandra Stafford
Sound Designer – Charles Brown
Fight Director – Kevin McCurdy
Assistant Director – Phil Lowe

The Stage Kevin Berry

Tim Stedman makes a marvellous pantomime chump and he does not have to bellow. Performers who equate panto performances with noise volume and frantic effort should be sent to see this man in action.

In this, his fifth consecutive appearance at Harrogate Theatre, Stedman displays superb physical comedy. Watching him negotiating a partly open stable door is both entertaining and instructive. He relishes dialogue riddled with first class spoonerisms and he has the audience responding with spoonerisms in perfect unison. Yet Stedman’s antics do not overwhelm or overbalance the show.

Mother Goose is, as is always the case at this venue, a thorough team effort. New Dame Adam Stafford plays his part like a Harrogate regular.

Regular writer Nicholas Pegg has again put together a literate, witty script that has appeal for all ages and even Guardian readers. Tom Peters has great fun with his lines as Demon Nightshade. His verbal joustings with Fairy Feather, played by the delicious Rachael Louise Miller, are inspired.

Alexandra Stafford’s lighting, particularly of the stage surface, adds to the colour and magic. Nick Winston’s choreography has the cast moving with purpose and style, especially when singing.