Review
Snow White in the Seven Months of Lockdown
John Savournin, Matthew Kellett, Meriel Cunningham in Snow White In The Seven Months of Lockdown - Credit: Ali Wright/Matthew Kellett
King's Head Theatre, Islington
****
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas in Islington without the annual Charles Court Opera panto - and fans needn't fear that Covid would prevent them cracking out the innuendos and soaring harmonies.
Artistic director John Savournin - who gamely dons a frock to star - has penned a virtual pandemic panto, complete with numbers about lockdown and mask-wearing, and a beefed up part for sneezy.
A crowdfunding campaign this summer, led by local couple Mark Gatiss and Ian Hallard, helped raise more than £100,000 to keep the King's Head afloat, so it's fitting that they get a starring role as the villainous Men In The Mirror, urging Jennie Jacob's cackling Queen onto increasing acts of evil.
You may also want to watch:
As ever, there's a family friendly version with swearwords and sauciness excised, but at core it's a heart-warming hour about loveable Snow White grieving for her late husband Barry, who finds love in the arms of lycra-clad Prince Larry.
John Savournin as Snow White - Credit: Ali Wright
And it turns out the evil Queen was just suffering from a nasty dose of lockdown loneliness when she tried to blow up Snow and poison the Prince. New for this year is a fun interactive element where the action pauses for us to vote on what the character should do next.
Most Read
- 1 Man dies after collapsing in Islington
- 2 Residents' 'frustration' as Royal Mail works to deliver in lockdown
- 3 Old Street roundabout project moves into final phase
- 4 Teaching mentor comes 'full circle' working at Islington school
- 5 Thames Water faces councillors’ anger over billing changes for tenants
- 6 Highbury woman launches pen pal initiative to fight lockdown loneliness
- 7 Islington charity choir smashes fundraising target with help from Brian Eno
- 8 Islington writers among the winners of 2021 awards
- 9 Police search for suspects after teen stabbed in the face in the Cally
- 10 Islington dancer recounts apartheid struggles in new book
The whole production looks great, and of course top class singers bring their fabulous pipes to the party - a pop song mash up riffing around Pachelbel's Cannon was pure genius. The gags will make you titter, the story will warm your cockles, and what's not to love about a heaven sent appearance from The Walrus of Love?
Jennie Jacobs as The Wicked Queen - Credit: Ali Wright
Tickets raise much-needed funds to ensure the whole shebang can survive until next Christmas, so tune in, do some good, do yourself some good.
Runs until January 3.
