STOURBRIDGE Pantomime Company always set a high standard and their 2009 production of Sleeping Beauty is no exception.

On Sunday January 25, a packed Stourbridge Town Hall was treated to the usual panto mix of song and dance, jokes and a tale with a happy ending.

The show provided something for young and old, creating a much needed feel-good factor for a new year which has a gloomy outlook for many.

The show opens with monologues from some leading characters with the excellent James Tromans standing out as Nanny Fanny Cranny.

James got the larger-than-life character just right, bringing a good mix of audience participation and cheeky humour to the role.

The company made good use of lighting and special effects throughout, highlights included a sequence where Princess Beauty’s toys come to life and scenes featuring the evil Black Fairy Carabosse.

By clever use of dance and costume the company made Carabosse’s ghoulish soldiers scary but not too frightening, which meant younger members of the audience where unlikely to go home and have nightmares.

The standout feature from the show has to be the lavish costumes which provided much of the colour and spectacle for the performance.

Nanny Fanny and the Arcadian King and Queen’s costumes were, at times, so outrageous the almost defied the laws of gravity.

Musical director Barry Hipkiss and his orchestra provided a solid soundtrack with a finale of Abba songs to capture the nation’s current Mamma Mia mood.

Well done Stourbridge Panto Company, come back soon to brighten up our miserable recession.