Children's Express reviewers offer their verdict on this year's pantomime at the Cochrane Theatre in Holborn, London.
| The actors were so good at playing their parts, we couldn’t take our eyes off the stage. |
The three of us had never been to the theatre before when we set off to see Beauty and the Beast.
Our expectations were mixed! Two of us thought we'd be bored and that we'd never be able to sit still for the entire two hours of the performance. One of us had no such worries and just couldn't wait for the show to start.
But from the very moment the actors entered the stage, we were all thinking the same thing - WOW!
It was clear right from the beginning that we were in for a real treat and that there'd be no chance of boredom setting in. Judging by the sounds coming from the rest of the audience (all around our age - maybe a bit younger) we weren't the only ones who liked what we saw.
The first scene was so realistic and very scary, thanks to the dramatic thunder and lightening that crackled throughout the theatre. We were only a few rows away from the stage and it really felt as though we were being dragged into Belle's nightmare.
We all knew the story of Beauty and the Beast so we knew what to expect but it didn't matter one bit. The actors were so good at playing their parts, we couldn't take our eyes off the stage.
The costumes were fantastic and helped to set a Victorian scene. The Beast looked frightening and his voice was terrifying because special sound effects made it echo throughout the theatre.
Although the actors, the stage and the backdrop looked fabulous, at times it was a bit hard for us to understand the adult kind of language the characters were using. But it didn't matter too much because their facial expressions said it all.
We left Beauty and the Beast with big smiles on our faces. We thought it was so much better than the film!
If you've never been to the theatre before, then it's something you MUST do and we'd definitely recommend you see Beauty and the Beast. But you'd better hurry, it's only on until January 12.
About the team
This review was produced by James Jordan 10, Ghizlan Akerbousse 10 and Charlotte Lawson 11. It was published in the Clerkenwell & Islington News.
