REVIEW: Puss in Boots by CADS, Churt Village Hall, January 24

This was so much more than just another pantomime. Oh yes it was.

True, this CADS production of Puss In Boots by Ben Crocker had the tried and tested formula that had audiences purring in delight. Good triumphing over evil? Check. A beautiful princess marrying a handsome prince? Check. Loveable idiots being rescued from certain doom? Check.

And all achieved with the help of fairy magic, talking animals, sing-a-long songs, silly jokes and audience participation? Yep, check.

But the real magic was found in the coming together of 50 villagers of differing age and experience on a small stage in Surrey. Credit is therefore due to directors and master craftswomen Anneliese Wadham and Sabrina Wong for weaving an array of talent into a rich tapestry.

The CADS stalwarts were the bedrock of the show with producer Dawn Barrow giving a confident and sparkling performance as the Good Fairy while Viv Raeside was delightful and deliciously gleeful as her bad opposite.

Ant Lloyd-Perks impressed with his seemingly hapless but subtly powerful rendition of King Wally while Chris Deacon’s Grimgrab the Ogre was intimidating and compellingly revolting.

But the emergence of fresh talent like Beth Nicolson and Bella Smith as Jack and Princess Esme, respectively, is encouraging with the principal boy and girl bringing real stage presence.

Matilda Whittle (Mime Pussy) was an excellent feline mime artist and Mia Bicknell gave a mature, skilled and confidence performance in the title role.Lexie Ewart (Molly) and Ella Couchman (Millie) also maintained their roles very well and impressed with their singing and dancing.

Newcomer James Slade is possibly the youngest performer to have played the Dame (Queen Wendy) in Churt and gave a wonderfully humorous and confidence performance. He also looked great.

Special shout-outs to comedy duo Alexandra Munoz (Jasper) and her sidekick Seonaid Scott-Bromley (Jethro). The former’s comic timing, movement and facial expression were superb and complimented perfectly by her gormless and dim-witted companion.

Phil Le Fanu (Bobbie) is another talented and versatile performer, acting, singing and dancing with flair and conviction.

Maggie Stocks (Maid) gave a solid performance while April Showers, Matthew Wells and Jack Irwin were truly hilarious as Killer Rabbits - can they come back next year?!

And of course the chorus - Pauline Colley, Gill German, and Rosalind Scott-Bromley held their own and gave fantastic support throughout the show.

Costumes were so bright, so colourful, so magnificent, and those masterminding the lights, sounds, music, stage setting, props, curtain pulling, front of house and all else that goes into production combined to enable the show to happen apparently seamlessly.

The audience also got the impression that cast members had a ball onstage.

This was contagious - for each ordinarily reputable member of the audience could be found cheering, booing and even singing and dancing too.

What a delight in today’s world to find such a pocket of joy, spreading to so many.

Thank you, CADS – looking forward to next year’s show already! By Pauline Quicke