"Beauty & the Beast"
Nottingham Arts Theatre.

Okay Christmas has now officially started and my bells have never felt so jingled, What a brilliant way to kick start Christmas but with the Nottingham Arts Theatre pantomime, "Beauty and the Beast".

You know the main story of Belle who is captured by The Beast who was really Prince Henri after he was not very nice to the Enchantress and it is through the love that develops between Belle and The Beast which breaks the spell. In the mean time though chaste Belle is being chased by the hunky and muscled Gustave. OK got the story? Now add an additional sprinkle of panto magic from writer Amanda Hall and assistant writer Matthew John and you've got yet another wonderful family fun pantomime. Another NODA winning pantomime I predict!

Belle is played by Laura Ellis, an absolute delight to watch in this role and her relationship with The Beast is very natural - wonder why that is? Instantly likeable and like every cast member, a wonderful clear voice.

Patrick McChrystal plays Henri/The Beast. Now personally I thought that Patrick is too much of a nice person to play such a nasty character, but there were parts that almost changed my mind. The nice thing about this "Beast" is that he wasn't too scary as to upset the younger kids, but was believably beastly for him to pull it off. I'm also impressed how fast Patrick can grow his facial hair for this role! A cracking end to a busy year for this talented actor.

Kimberley Allsopp (Camille) consistently delivers in her theatre roles and this is another lovely role for Kimberley.

Lizzie Fenner (The Enchantress Carlotta) I think is new name to me, but what stage presence this lady has. Last year Patrick gave me the tingles with "This Is The Moment" in panto; this year Lizzie did it with one of my favourite songs from this year "This Is Me" from "The Greatest Showman". The shivers went up my spine faster than a turkey at the mention of the word "stuffing". It takes a powerful voice to do that song justice but Lizzie nailed it. What a way to close Act One.

Sean Goodwin returns to panto as Idles Jacques. Another fun role which, I thought, the audience should have got behind him more with the audience participation sections. You deserved better reactions from them, Sean, but what a lovely pacy and fun character. Sean is also responsible for the fight co ordinating in this show.

Cassie Hall played Phillipe Phlopp, right hand man for Gustave. Cassie always guarantees a reliably solid performance and a gentle humour that is always welcomed in panto.

Danielle Hall (Adrienne) gets to show off her, rarely seen and should be heard more, singing voice in this panto. I've heard Danielle sing before in character but to hear her sing naturally is lovely,and she also does a wonderful job of some of the choreography. It's always a joy to see Danielle on and off stage.

Alex Huntley, as Gustave, may be in fear of becoming type cast. Alex was the UPS delivery man in "Legally Blonde" earlier this year and here he plays the sexy, hunky and muscly Gustave in this, his first pantomime ever! Brilliant casting for Alex and he looked like he was enjoying every single moment on stage. Once more a really good voice and he can dance as well. I think they call actors like Alex a triple threat. You can see that Alex has been to the gym to get ready for this role - and I hope that your back is now all OK.

Alderman Claude is played by one of my favourite mature actors on the local theatre scene, Mike Newbold. On stage his characters are mainly the bumbling type but away from the stage, nothing could be more different, which highlights what a good actor he is.

Mike Pearson is just one of the two brilliant "dames" in this panto. As Madame Yvette Eclair he shows what a wonderful fame he is,and all with a French accent and high heels. There are not many actors locally who have cornered the market playing this kind of role and have done it with the level of success that Mike has had. Il est tres fantastique mes amis.

Hugo, the Beast's gardener, is played by Joseph Jk Smith, another actor who has had a busy year on stage. He has great timing which I'd never really noticed before, and lovely comic timing as well. He has the ability to perform comic routines like this as well as less comic roles like Alan Bennett in "The Lady In The Van" from earlier this year with Spotlight. Another actor who is reliably solid an all of the roles that I have seen him in.

Now what can I say about Matthew Wesson who plays Dame Mimi Macaron? A perfect double act in Damedom with Mike Pearson, and like Mike, he is so very good as the section that invites kids on to the stage. There aren't many local theatre actors who can play this section out with such smoothness and quick thinking ability as Matt and Mike. Matthew just has funny bones and these come natural to him and that is what makes this man such a joy to watch work in roles like the Dame. And boy can he work an audience!

Emily Wilkins has now notched up her sixth panto with this one and another hard working young actor, and dance captain, who I am looking forward to seeing in "Urinetown" at Bilborough College later in December.

The ensemble team were so tight with the main cast and the choreography they delivered was as good as any I have seen on any professional stage, and they all looked as if they loved being on stage, which goes a long way to adding to the enjoyment of the overall show.

Talking of choreography, Amy Rogers-Gee has yet again worked her magic on this cast, and I am so sure that she is really proud for the way that they have showcased, not only their own talents, but Amy's as well.

Tom Mowat's lighting creates a wonderful world of light in this show and I loved the strobing effect he has designed for a particular section. An ocean of lights make this one of the most colourful shows I have seen at the Nottingham Arts Theatre. Nathan Penney is the talent responsible for operating the lighting design by Tom.

Musical Director Ray Samuel Mcleod is a musical magician as he has really pulled a gorgeously rich sound out of a hat. It is so good, and so well mixed, that at times you may mistake this sound for recorded tracks. Rich, clear and well balanced.

Making the sound as good as it was is Rob Kettridge, who was also responsible for the amazing rose which loses its' petals as the panto develops.

Yet again Amanda Hall has created another smash hit panto. Many long hours had been put in to this piece of theatre and all that hard work has been well worth it when you see what a professional and enjoyable show this is, and not just for the kids.

there are many people responsible for producing and putting on a show as good as this one and I could go on forever listing all the names, which i won't do, but everyone from the wardrobe department, which was just so amazingly good, especially Dame Macaron's and Madame Eclair's, to the Front Of House staff, thank you all for one absolutely brilliant show that would get even Scrooge in an almighty Christmas mood.

"Beauty and the Beast" is at the Nottingham Arts Theatre until Sunday 16 December 2018.