![](https://www.sardinesmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/CS1_0511-jpg.webp)
Show: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Society: New Wimbledon Theatre (professional)
Venue: New Wimbledon Theatre. 93 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1QG
Credits: By Alan McHugh and directed by Jonathan Kiley. Produced by Crossroads Pantomimes
Type: Sardines
Performance Date: 07/12/2022
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
New Wimbledon Theatre pantomime launch. Photo: Craig Sugden
A quick trip to SW19 saw New Wimbledon Theatre’s pantomime offering for 2022 and our second from Crossroads Pantomimes in as many days. (our third is on Friday at Richmond Theatre).
What an interesting show it is. The first thing to note is the lack of ANY repetition after experiencing the genius of Brian Conley in Woking last night. I thought the same old jokes were going to be churned out – before curtain up. However there were no such repeats whatsoever. Mind you, Ruthie Henshall’s performance – while full of evil joy and enthisiasm – was exactly the same role that Jessie Wallace played in 2017 at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre. Even the dress is identical. The script has been updated for the rest of the cast but Ruthie’s Lucrecia also sings Nina Simone’s I Put a Spell on You and even delivers the very same bling bling innit monologue as did Ms ‘Kat Slater’ Wallace. Having said that, Henshall is nothing short of brilliant in her pantomimt debut – let’s hope she comes back for more. Loving every second; every ‘boo’ and ‘hiss’ just widens her evil grin even more. The infamous bling bling innit speech goes down so well from Henshall as the rest of her role is delivered with a crisp RP accent. So nobody saw that coming.
Ruthie Henshall is the star of the show really; she appears the most, has the most lines and is excellent. Catch my interviews with five of the cast at the launch HERE – ‘Dick & Dom’ count as one cast member. Matthew Kelly is a great dame but looks like he might be missing his son, Matt Rixon. The pair are usually identical as the two Ugly Sisters… and so tall! But with Rixon currently playing Harold Zidler in London’s Moulin Rouge you can’t have it all. When I interviewed Kelly (HERE) he was excited at the prospect of performing in the West End (Noises Off) with his son but in different productions – post panto. Perhaps Kelly is a little sad at not having a descent crack at the whip as Nelly Nightnurse, but when the stage has no less than eight celebs in the cast, there is only so much time to share around.
Thank goodness Dick and Dom DO have a descent crack of the whip this year. Last year they had to close a poor production in Croydon on Christmas Eve, but up until then the pair ere on their own trying to get laughs with very few tools, a tiny cast… and Derek Griffiths! This year it’s smiles all round and they know that they’re good… on top form… and very funny. Working their socks off they do so well with the Twelve Days of Christmas sketch. And yes, ‘bogies’ do make an appearance!
X Factor-turned-theatre-diva-turned-Loose Woman, Brenda Edwards, is excellent. And what a set of pipes this woman has! Her tendancy – as The Spirit of Panto – to slip into a rastaferian accent goes down very well. At the launch when I interviewed her (HERE) she virtually laughed her head off throughout. Brenda’s enthusiasm is infectious. Hannah Lowther successfully shows that her theatre training has paid off, hence the role of Cinderella. I’m sure her half a million followers in TikTok helped at the sudition but, in all honesty, I doubt if many of any of those followers have bought tickets to the theatre. Lee Mead’s Prince Charming oozes charm. No wonder he gets the girl. And it’s a nice touch from director, Jonathan Kiley, to have the prince bite the poisonous apple instead of Cinderella and needs saving accordingly. Mead’s Any Dream Will Do song is one of the highlights of the night. No spoilers but Dick & Dom are involved – think Morecambe & Wise and Des O’Conner (I’m sure D&D won’t mind being compared to that pair).
I loved John Archer’s appearances; he would have stolen the show if he’s been given any more stage time. His years’ of experience have paid off briliantly and Archer’s dry sense of humour is quite hilarious.
With eight celebs in the cast this is the London Palladium’s friendly rival in the suburbs… except this show is family friendly – and children are welcome! In fact it’s nice to see them up onstage again this year.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs plays at New Wimbledon Theatre until 31 December.