BWW Reviews: SLEEPING BEAUTY Awakens Joyfully at Pasadena Playhouse

Sleeping Beauty and Her Winter Knight/written by Kris Lythgoe/directed by Bonnie Lythgoe/Pasadena Playhouse/through January 4, 2015

For the last few years the uber talented Lythgoe family have been entertaining us at Christmastime, first at the El Portal in NoHo and now at the Pasadena Playhouse with a British style panto. A panto is an interactive entertainment that starts with a very contemporary retelling of a fairy tale such as Snow White, Cinderella, or in this case Sleeping Beauty and turns it into a fun imaginative show with music that will appeal to both children and their parents. There's usually an actor in drag (outrageous David Engel as Nanny Tickle, Aurora's nanny), a villain or villainess (Lucy Lawless as Carabosse))... and audience are encouraged to root for the heroes and HISS loudly at the villains. Lawless tries to sway and seize control over the audience by singing "One Way or Another", after which kids and adults boo and boo some more. At an appropriate time they raise up glow torches to help light the way for our favorite heros right on through the palace walls to rescue the Prince. It's all in amusement, of course, and this year's Sleeping Beauty and Her Winter Knight is enormous fun with a dynamite cast and some spectacular dancing and singing... and, first and foremost, an overall enjoyably good script by Kris Lythgoe that flows along without a flaw.

With a lovely set design by Ian Wilson and beautiful costumes by Albermarle Productions, the PP stage sparkles with wintry beauty. Director Bonnie Lythgoe guides her entire ensemble of adults and children with grace and love and choreographer Spencer Liff has them dancing their tushes off. The cast is a glorious team. Olivia Holt is an adorable Aurora, Princess of Pasadena; Garrett Clayton is her handsome Prince of Alhambra. Both sing, dance and romance divinely in spite of the odds thrown at them mainly by the wicked Carabosse. Lawless is not only a lovely creature but proves herself an expert comic actress with just the right amount of dishy sarcasm and also sings the hell out of her perilous "One Way or Another". Patrick Cassidy makes a sturdy King of Pasadena. David Engel is a deliciously charming and caring Nanny Tickle - he's a natural in a dress, and Ben Giroux gives us plenty to laugh about as clownish Silly Billy. Tamyra Gray is a kind and sweet Good Fairy, and all the dancers and Kids (Silver and Blue Teams; the Blue Team performed on the 11th, opening night) are sensational.

There are some great rock 'n roll hit tunes afloat like "Footloose", "Eye of the Tiger", "Happy Together"and of course, "One Way or Another" to delight you, especially with the amazing Michael Orland conducting the orchestra, so run to get tix, as most of these shows will sell out fast. Bring the kids of all ages, and in the courtyard there's Santa, and some games and painting activities to enthrall them before curtain time....and snow...yep, inside and out, after the show! Sleeping Beauty is a really delectable Christmas confection.

http://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/

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