By Sam Allen

While the rest of us were still recovering from a surfeit of turkey, Brussels sprouts and Christmas pudding, the dedicated folk from Wayfarers Pantomime Society were working hard putting the finishing touches to this year’s pantomime, Beauty and the Beast by Tom Whalley. If you wanted to see a truly traditional pantomime in all its splendour, then Taunton’s Brewhouse Theatre was the place to be. All the best pantomime traditions were in play: we had slapstick, a ‘behind you’ sequence, there was a UV scene, romance, the battle between good and evil, gags aplenty and spectacular singing and dancing for which the Wayfarers have become renowned.
There was something for everyone. Visual knockabout and a little bit of rudeness for the kids to enjoy, a few near-the-knuckle jokes that only the adults would get, a touch of fear and a lot of romance. When it came to music we had lively spectacular numbers, gentle and sometimes wistful romantic numbers, and great comedy too! Comedy was a central feature of this year's show. Never has wibbly wobbly jelly made me laugh so much! And, being panto, there was lots of audience interaction, just as it should be.
This was a very talented team putting on a fast-paced and wonderfully directed show. The costumes, sets and lighting combined with the choreography to produce a glorious visual delight and the marvellous singing from the principals and the chorus, underscored by some wonderfully arranged accompaniment, made this a great all-round post-Christmas treat.
It is no wonder that Wayfarers have been performing pantomime for fifty-six years, and no surprise that the crowds keep flocking in. And with the talent and dedication on display this year, there is no doubt it will continue for many, many years to come.
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