Beauty and the Beast

Theatre Royal, St Helens

THE Theatre Royal marketing team must have known it was on to a winner when planning an Easter pantomime just a few weeks after the release of Disney's new Beauty and the Beast film.

Little girls sporting yellow Belle dresses packed into an enthusiastic and full audience in St Helens on Saturday night.

Headlining this season's cast was Channel 5 Milkshake presenter Amy Thompson as Belle and former Big Brother contestant Nikki Grahame as Fairy Rose.

But it was panto favourites Liam Mellor as French Frank and Simon Foster as Potty Polly who provided the many laugh out loud moments throughout the show, helped on this occasion by Philip McGuinness whose comic portrayal of the macho Gaston was reminiscent of a young Russ Abbott.

Special mention must be made to the talented young dancers on stage including Atalia Mai Cornelia, a pupil at Chapelford Village Primary School.

Those expecting to hear the likes of Be Our Guest and the title theme song may have been disappointed, but some crowd-pleasing song choices and a couple of Trolls favourites managed to keep the younger members of the audience happy - many of whom were dancing in the aisles by the end.

The cracking family-fun show runs throughout the Easter break until Sunday, April 23.

For tickets go to sthelenstheatreroyal.com or call 01744 756000.