ACT Reviews 2022-2023 Season

(played by Lauren Downes) lifted every scene. He (She) was a was a complimenting mix of both charming and sweet and had me chuckling throughout the whole show. Whilst not being the strongest vocal performer, Lauren injected passion into every song and acted superbly without letting her energy drop for a moment. Dame Trot…WOW! Those costumes were spectacularly horrific, and they were spot on! I applaud the wardrobe team. Every outfit change was dazzling, and I especially liked the headdresses. Dame Trot (played by Joshua-Callum Rawlinson) was hilarious and well-cast for this role. Despite it being his first principal role, he was confident and executed every line with the flamboyance and flare required. The comedy timing between Dame Trot, Daisy, the cow, and Simon was well-rehearsed and spot on every time. Towards the end of the show, there was a technical error with a song, meaning that Dame Trot had to sing and engage with the audience in an acapella rendition of ‘Big Fish, Little Fish, Cardboard Box’. This had me almost crying with laughter and Joshua was very professional and stayed committed to his character role throughout, meaning it had no negative impact on the show whatsoever. Daisy, the Cow (played by sisters Danielle and Deanna Radcliffe) and Simon (played by Emmeline Greenwood) were the ideal comedy duo. I was very impressed by the cow’s dancing (There’s a sentence I never thought I’d write!) and again it was evident that the role had been very well rehearsed. Emmeline, in the role of Simon, was exceptional. Being small and dainty, she was well cast as the loveable, timid sidekick who gains confidence by the audience shouting, ‘Be brave, Simon!’. She had high energy throughout and was very funny. Queen Bertha and Princess Demelza (played by Helena Rose and Chevonne Williams) really did look the part. Both strikingly beautiful, they commanded the audience’s attention with elegance and grace. Helena was professional throughout a couple of wardrobe mishaps, and it is clear that she is a well-seasoned performer. Chevonne sang beautifully in ‘I See the Light’, showing off her soft tone and vibrato. The younger performers were fantastic. The children who played the cockroaches were incredibly sweet and confident and the ‘Danswork’