Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs

The Newdigate Theatrical Society (NEWTS) was back in action again playing to packed houses in the Village Hall. This year they performed Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs and the audience was entertained by the usual mix of fun, laughter, pathos and mayhem. The script was licenced from Ben Crocker Pantomimes.

The performance started with the trainee Fairy Goodheart (Annette Jordan) and Wonderwings (Julia Parker) setting the scene. Queen Grimelza (Nina Ziegler) then strutted on to the stage looking fabulously wicked as she played up, in a perfect German accent, to the booing audience. She heard from her evil sidekick Black Wing (Heather MacLeod) that her step-daughter the princess Snow White (Amelie Letts) was having her 18th birthday and that she would surpass Queen Grimelza and be the most beautiful person in the world from Dorking to the mountains of Nepal. This was confirmed by Speak True, the mirror on the wall (Val Cottington). She was furious and demanded that the wicked Bogwort (Keith Dovey) and Stinkwort (Tina Callcut) should murder Snow White and return her heart in a casket. This was overheard by Dolly Dumpling (Steve Martin) and her son Danny Dumpling (Barry Jordan).

Snow White was tricked into going on a picnic deep in the woods with Bogwort and Stinkwort. Whilst the reluctant murderers were agonising over who should do the dastardly deed, Snow White escaped and met up with the Seven Dwarfs.  She agreed to do the cooking and cleaning in return for staying in their cottage. Bogwart and Stinkwort found the cottage and gained entry only to be thwarted by the handsome Prince Frederick (Cameron Snook) who had fallen in love with Snow White at her party.

Snow White was planning to make the dwarfs an apple pie when an old crone (Queen Grimelza) knocked on the door and offered her a beautiful red apple. To calls of “don’t”, “stop” from the audience, Snow White took a bite and collapsed on the floor to an audible gasp and to a victorious yelp from the Queen.

Of course the fairies performed their magic and Snow White came back to life when Prince Frederick kissed her hand… and as for Queen Grimelza, she spent the rest of her life in penury polishing and cleaning for the dwarfs.

NEWTS has gained a reputation for performing riotous pantomimes and this was no exception. All the performers are local and they have a wonderful knack of interacting with their audience. Children are involved too as woodland creatures, couriers and dwarfs.

The ‘show must go on’ was never more true when Prince Frederick woke up with an eye and throat infection on the morning of the first January show.  Caliana Topley Nassar was already auditioned to play the part of Snow White for this run, and Amelie Letts was going to be a dwarf. Amelie instantly agreed to play the part of Prince Frederick and miraculously learnt her lines in a matter of hours (see picture below). What a trouper!

After the last show the cast and friends descended upon the Six Bells where they enjoyed an after-show party and an excellent spread of food.

Productions of this nature can only happen with the help and enthusiasm of lots of people. Lighting, sound, props, costumes, publicity and the bar are all looked after by dedicated local people. Special thanks go to Dorking Wanderers Football Club for sponsoring the dwarfs and Mike Awin of ABS Wines for contributing to the bar with some excellent wines.