Mirror, Mirror on the wall: Snow White panto wins hearts at Braywick Leisure Centre

Until Wednesday, December 24

Snow White

Braywick Leisure Centre

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‘Mirror, Mirror on the wall, which is this season’s best pantomime of them all?

If you were to find a magic mirror, and make such a request this Christmas, it may just reply that Snow White at the Braywick Leisure Centre is the pick of the bunch.

Now, let’s set the scene. I was in a mood heading to the theatre on Sunday. A big mood. Newcastle United had just lost in the derby to Sunderland, and my Christmas spirit was running rather low. Oh no it wasn’t! Oh yes it was!

But two hours in the company of Snow White (Rowan MacKillop) and her enchanting friends put a big smile back on my face.

Like the Grinch, my heart had grown three sizes by the time I headed home.

Snow White does eventually get her happily ever after with Huntsman Jack – not the prince – but her path to true love doesn’t run smoothly thanks to the wicked presence of the Evil Queen – who gave off excellent Grotbag vibes – now there’s a reference that’s showing my age!

The Huntsman is sent out to kill Snow White by the Evil Queen after the magic mirror tells her she’s no longer the fairest in the land. You get the drift.

From there the panto follows a familiar path with some interesting and entertaining tangents.

There’s a scene with a penguin dressed as a ghost. Nope, I don’t recall that from the original story either. But who cares, it gives the kids another chance to scream ‘he’s behind you!’ at the top of their lungs.

Dame Doughball (Scott James) – who steals the show in the way all panto Dames should – also hitches up one of her colourful dresses to ride around Maidenhead on an exercise bike. Some clever use of video creating a hugely entertaining diversion along Frascati Way and the Bath Road!

The Queen’s dastardly attempts to get Snow White to eat a poisoned apple and fall into an eternal slumber are eventually thwarted by the Huntsman,

Dame Doughball and the ‘6 7’ Dwarves – if you don’t get that reference, your kids certainly will!

The show features topical and local jokes, and a range of catchy songs to familiar themes – such as Wicked’s Defying Gravity and Golden from KPop Demon Hunters.

Some of the other show tunes are more unique to the production and are sure to get you bouncing – literally – in the aisles.

The brilliant 12 Days of Christmas routine – excellent fun for the audience but exhausting for the actors – was another highlight, with water squirted into the audience and giant beach balls sent tumbling around the theatre to be chased by excited children.

The show also features bundles of audience participation, with two children invited on stage at one point.

Seb on the front row may have wished he’d stayed at home though after being roped into a date with the Dame at the Toby Carvery – you can’t back out now Seb! While the evil Queen’s interaction with the kids also kept me amused – ‘you’ve lost your Switch; you’ve lost your Switch’.

Generally, though, this is just a lot of good fun. The Dwarves are also a blast, especially crowd favourite Loopey.

This year’s show runs from December 13 to December 24 at Maidenhead’s Braywick Leisure Centre. The production showcases a blend of professional performers and local talent from the community’s dance and drama schools.

Scott James is no stranger to the Baylis Theatre, having played an ugly sister in last year’s panto Cinderella.

The show also features Alice Pescott-Frost as the Wicked Queen, Max Field as Huntsman Jack and local resident, Rowan MacKillop, as the title role, Snow White.

Snow White is proudly supported by Marlow FM with tickets priced from £17 and available online at maidenheadpanto.co.uk