Sleeping Beauty starts at the Macrobert theatre

Dec 2 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

CHRISTMAS is officially on the calendar in Stirling.

The lights have been switched on, the annual rendition by Slade is belting out of shops around the city centre – and, best of all, the pantomime has opened at the Macrobert.

This year children of all ages, from toddlers to great-grannies, will be entertained royally by the cast of “Sleeping Beauty”.

It means a welcome return to Stirling for Johnny McKnight, who has built up an army of fans locally – and he does not disappoint in his fifth year at the Macrobert.

As well as taking the main role of dame Fairy Kylie Contrary, Johnny wrote the production – so on opening night last Friday you might excuse him for forgetting his words on one occasion.

But it was almost as if it was part of the story as Fairy Contrary and her son Jester (Ross Allan) helped save the day afer Beauty (Charlene Boyd) fell asleep in time-honoured tradition.

Michele Gallagher and Gavin Wright in the dual roles of Queen Toshita and Prince Charming and King Pecsinold and Leanie McMeanie were a busy couple, with their send-up of Posh and Becks as Tosh and Pecs particularly funny.

Anita Vitesse played the baddie Queenie McMeanie and had everyone booing – even when she saw the error of her ways at the end.

The dame, however, is always the star turn and yet again Johnny McKnight showed he is definitely one of the best in the country.

The Macrobert must treat him very well indeed for him to keep returning to Stirling when he could easily commandeer one of the big city pantomimes.

He knows how to get the crowd on his side from the start and his jokes and asides were aimed more at the younger element in the audience, although there was the odd adult joke which brought a chuckle to the mums and dads.

The local young talent on show excelled. Many of them were appearing for the first time but there were no nerves and there will be even less as the applause rings through their ears during December.

Get into the festive mood and get your tickets for “Sleeping Beauty”.