Snow White 2006/2007

starring Leslie Grantham, Linda Lusadi, Sam Kane and Kev Orkian

 

Review from The Stage Newspaper

Stunning sets, sumptuous costumes and a company that sparkles ensure this is a Christmas cracker of a production. Linda Lusardi dazzles as the evil Queen Lucretia while Sam Kane, in fine voice, counterpoints with his princely charms. Leslie “‘Allo, Princess” Grantham gives a suitably sleazy performance as the queen’s henchman while Vicky Chandler is the persecuted Snow White and Chereene Price appears as an engaging violin-playing Spirit. Kev Orkian laces his crazy comedy throughout the story, in a performance that ensures liberal doses of laughter.

His mirror image sketch, with the queen, is a sheer delight and it is good to see this fine example of traditional panto so expertly executed. Orkian’s frog sketch is also a winner as he hops about in an amphibian outfit. A virtuoso keyboard player, he let his fingers loose on the piano for a blistering bit of boogie.

With the vivacious individual performances fusing into a cohesive whole, the feel-good factor glows long after the final curtain. Sam Kane’s direction ensures not one wasted minute as the show switches between music, mirth and mayhem.

Joe Atkins’ excellent lighting enhances the atmosphere while the vibrant, colour co-ordinated costumes are a feast for the eye.

 

Interview with Leslie in St Albans about pantomime

So, another year, another panto?

Leslie: Yes, you are absolutely right, I didn't do one last year because of EastEnders and the year before I didn't do Peter Pan, I was in Belfast doing Dick Whittington. But it is nice to come back and do Hook, I think I was made for it really, although I do have two arms.

I really enjoy it and seemingly we have got a great cast. I've got Dani (Harmer) who is playing Pan and obviously I'm directing the performance, so if she annoys me it will be the first time in Peter Pan history that Pan gets eaten by the crocodile, but I'm sure it will be fine.

How many pantos have you done now?

This is my 13th Christmas of doing pantomimes, the first one I ever did was terrible. It was at the Theatre Royal Nottingham playing Robin Hood in Babes in the Wood and it was really terrible.

I never thought I'd do another one and then I got offered Captain Hook in Peter Pan by Jon Conway from Qdos and I've worked for them for the last 12 Christmases and it has been fantastic.

Do you now get to choose which role you play?

Well my kids did really. They phoned up and one of my boys, I think it was Spike, answered the phone. Jon Conway was on the end and said "could you ask your dad does he want to do Robin Hood or Hook". The boys were into Hook then and said "Hook definitely" and I'm glad they did.

How are you going to cope with such a long run, do you lose a lot of weight?

No, I'm built like a butcher's pencil anyway so it is fine, it’s an ensemble show so everyone puts in an equal amount of energy.

Do you often find that you are type cast as a baddie?

Who wants to play a good guy? When you think about it, all the best parts in pantomimes are the bad guys and Hook is a great character to play. I don't play him nastily and yes he is nasty, but he is a bit of a buffoon and if you think about it, he is Mr Darling's alter ego.

So what does Darling say to you or to me? It means he’s an actor because they all say darling, so I'm playing him as a frustrated over the top actor who’s a bit of a coward.

How do you stay motivated for the long run of pantomime?

You try and stay motivated by making it fresh and also if you are working with a nice company, I hear actors all the time going "oh panto is such hard work". Well it is hard work if you are working with a load of people who aren't professional or a lot of egos.

Luckily, and I cross my fingers, we're not going to have any egos this year and I'm there to stamp on any of it. Because if I don't have an ego no one else does. The show isn't about us, it's about the kids, it’s about the audience.

I would say, and I'll probably get into trouble for this, I wouldn't say this was your typical pantomime. This is a darn good family Christmas show with music and every time I have done it, everyone has come up afterwards and said it’s great, it’s fantastic, we really enjoyed it.

That is all I want, I want people to go out and say I really enjoyed that and I want to see that again.

 

 

Some great 'photos from the St Albans panto 2005/2006

 

Thanks to the fan who sent these in to me!!!!!!

 

 

The Great Panto Double Act of Leslie and Joe

 

 

 

 

Peter Pan

 

 

Leslie has appeared in a number of theatre productions including pantomimes, comedies and just plain old fashioned dramas.

Most famous is probably his partnership with Joe Pasquale in 'Peter Pan'. And with the partnership spanning roughly 8 years they will be remembered by everyone around the country who saw them perform together making christmas magical.

Leslie fit very comfortably into the role of baddy Captain Hook whilst Joe was hilarious as Hooks sidekick Smee!! I've been lucky enough to have seen the show on a number of occasions travelling to Wolverhampton, Bradford, Newcastle, Wimbledon, Wycombe, Birmingham, Nottingham and St Albans.

The whole cast were very professional but Leslie stood out on every occasion lapping up the boos and hisses from the audience who were loving every minute of his performance.

Having seen Leslie and Joe in 'Peter Pan' on a number of occasions it's obvious that they get on like a house on fire. Joe has the ability to make anyone laugh,audiences and cast alike.Seeing Leslie trying to stick to the script whilst attempting to stick his Captain Hook moustache back on after it curled up through laughing at Joe was hilarious.

One of my favourite bits in the show is where Smee (Joe) standing in front of Captain Hook (Leslie) starts counting on his fingers. He starts on one hand saying 'One potato, two potato, three potato four, five potato............hook!! Very funny, very clever but I guess you really had to see it live!!