SCORING paddles clutched in hands, an audience of excited children, parents, pensioners and lary drunks in the upper circle at The Orchard’s pantomime gingerly waited to pass righteous judgement on Strictly Come Dancing’s notoriously harsh critic, Craig Revel Horwood.
The Aussie choreographer and the BBC show’s acid-tongued judge is zipping up his boots and going back to his roots, dragging up to play evil Queen Lucretia in Snow White.
And the verdict? While the show is more fairytale musical and Saturday morning kids' TV than traditional panto, it’s good-hearted fun and deserves a big fat seveeeen but maybe not quite a 10.
Casting the deliciously sardonic Revel Horwood as the vain and jealous queen is an inspired decision, cleverly side-stepping Snow White’s problematic lack of a dame.
It’s not the first time he has frocked up for a festive show though and towering in heels and a garish, glittering ballgown — looking like a cross between Cruella de Vil and Zsa Zsa Gabor — he has plenty of stage presence.
So much so, the audience roared with appreciation every time he appeared.
It’s an oddity for a panto villain to receive cheers instead of heckles and at one point he had to remind his fans to boo and hiss.
Sharing the spotlight with Revel Horwood and making her stage debut is former Tory MP and Strictly contestant Ann Widdecombe.
She may not have much rhythm on the dancefloor but as the wicked queen’s maid Widdy-in-Waiting she shows a surprising sense of comic timing, clearly enjoying her bitchy banter with Revel Horwood.
However, her wooden performance is closer to Night of the Living Dead than Snow White.
Despite the constant references to Strictly — even Len Goodman turns up as the magic mirror — Widdecombe’s dance moves are kept to a minimum.
Although Revel Horwood does get to drag the old lady across the floor during one scene.
Gregor Stewart and Shinead Byrne as Prince David and Snow White are suitably sweet and Nick Weir is a great Muddles.
However, the show is hampered by the lack of a live band, a conservative script (pardon the pun) and there are simply not enough groany gags.
Nevertheless, Revel Horwood’s fab-u-lous turn ensures everything runs smoothly and there’s rarely a dull, dull, dull moment.
Snow White runs until January 7. To book tickets, call 01322 220000 or visit orchardtheatre.co.uk
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