Community Magazine - January 2006

Red Riding Hood - Ferndown Phoenix Musical Society
PHOENIX Musical Society is in safe hands for the future. Several youngsters put in excellent performances in this unusual panto, which combined the story of the big bad wolf with that of the blood-sucking Count Dracula. Alex Anstey and Dylan Mason, as Nicky Nutz and Bobby Boltz, produced some excellent comic timing, not to mention a prepossessing stage presence.
Natasha Barry, an animated young actress also shone as Red Riding Hood, and Matthew Miles, was an enchanting lamb. Georgina Osborne as shepherdess Mary Hood is another very promising young performer, with an aptitude for comedy.
The opening scene introduced us to the Wicked Wolf, played with both humour and darkness by Bill Mason, and you couldn't help but boo him.
Director Dave Evans, who apparently came in at short notice to direct and produce, chose some excellent musical numbers and the cast, together with the adult and junior chorus and dancers, put in some well-rounded performances.
The production has some innovative touches, and the performers have clearly put in a lot of work to produce an entertaining panto, however, running at just over three hours - including an interval, I felt it was a little too long. Red Riding Hood runs until the end of the week at the Barrington Theatre, Ferndown. M.A.

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