ABBOTTS Ann Players ensured its audience was not short-changed in characters with this year’s pantomime, Snow White, by Alexandra Slater.

Directed by Andrew Hayter, it had two narrators, a dame, a magic mirror, a convincingly unconvinced huntsman, two hapless sidekicks, three fairies, two ‘nasties’ to boo, three princes, two kings — and seven dwarfs! Fortunately, the Players were able to draw on spirited and proficient cast members to fill all the roles. The ‘Sisters Grimm’ (Lisa Hiller and Val Hayter) narrated the plot to a full house, warning the audience they were having to avoid infringing copyright! Unlike characters in a well-known 1937 film, the seven dwarfs here were named Nursie, Jolly, Sniffly (with a very unhygienic handkerchief), Bovvered, Grouchy, Dozy and Lazy.

The story is well-known. Queen Olivia (Mel Poole) pricks her finger sewing, and a droplet falls on the window sill. She wishes for a child with hair as black as ebony, skin white as snow, and cheeks as red as Heinz tomato sauce (it’s a pantomime, they don’t ‘do’ blood!) This comes true, but the queen dies.

The king, a very laid-back rock-and-roller in shades, by name King Barry (Stuart Lennon), marries a statuesque and vain harridan, called Nefaria (Janis Bulpitt). When the magic mirror advises her that Princess Snow White (the sweetly-singing Eloise Kestle) now surpasses her in beauty, the queen orders the huntsman (Alan Dixon) to dispose of her. Meanwhile, Snow White has been pining for a young man she has recently met, Prince George (Oli Godman). Unbeknown to her, the feeling is mutual, but the wicked queen has contrived to keep them apart.

The tender-hearted huntsman cannot bring himself to slay the princess and she escapes to safety in the rather smelly home of seven dwarfs. The queen soon discovers the hiding place and makes several attempts to finish her off. Eventually, with the help of Fairies Nuff, Liquid and Cake (Lucy Coombes, Jenny Read and Jules Thompson), Prince George is reunited with his love, and all ends happily.

The performance closed with a version of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ in which the cast’s antics caused great hilarity. The Abbotts Ann pantomimes are fast becoming a much-anticipated Christmas event. It was particularly encouraging to see so many youngsters taking the stage this year — and so competently and enthusiastically, too. It bodes well for the future enjoyment of the village! Rosemary Groves