Take a prick, take a friend, just take anyone, and have a camp old time with this show
Sleeping Beauty Takes a Prick! is a new (very) adult pantomime from the team behind the hugely successful Above the Stag adult pantos. Directed by Andrew Beckett and written by Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper, Sleeping Beauty Takes a Prick! tells the classic fairytale story, but only if you squint very hard. It is loosely based on the classic story, with a queer, raunchy, sci-fi, fantasy twist. Sounds mad, it is mad, but it’s also incredibly good fun and my favourite adult panto of the season for sure.
This show is really very funny. It takes a machine gun approach to comedy with a constant barrage of jokes, meaning if you did not find one of them particularly funny, do not worry, there is another joke coming before you know it. Some of the jokes are just dumb, in the best way possible. The subject matter is, as you can guess from the title, a lot more adult and sexually charged than a regular panto, but it is all played in that same family friendly way, which makes all the filth that much more amusing. I will say though that some of the musical numbers did seem to bring the momentum of the show to a halt, but this is a minor gripe from what was otherwise a very enjoyable show.
The highlight of the show is absolutely Matthew Baldwin as Queen Gertrude. He had an electric stage presence and whenever he was not on stage, I was eagerly awaiting his return. He had a wonderful way of making it seem that he was having just as much fun as the audience was, and the brief moments of unscripted audience interaction were hilarious. He seemed incredibly comfortable and confident in the role and I mean this with the utmost respect, it seems like he was born to play a mad camp old queen.
The cast as a whole were all very strong, with Nikki Biddington as Myrtle/Maria being a standout along with Chris Lane as Prince Camembert. Both actors brought wonderful energy to the roles and played every joke to perfection. The script itself should also be commended, blending together topical references with some more old school nods and a fair whack of innuendo and outright debauchery. Despite the madness occurring on stage, nothing ever felt out of control.
Loved the costuming and clever/fun set design. I also recommend the programme. It’s very funny.
I will also give my compliments to the costuming by Sandy Lloyd and Robert Draper. The myriad of wonderful outfits for Queen Gertrude were a highlight, especially the ostentatious nod to the iconic day at the races dress from My Fair Lady. It is rare for me to recommend the programme, but when you go see this show you absolutely must pick a copy up. I flicked through it during the interval and it is genuinely hilarious and very well done.
In conclusion, if you want a fun, rather raunchy, and very queer panto, then you are not going to find any better than this. Sleeping Beauty Takes a Prick! is playing at the Charing Cross Theatre until 13th January.