The madcap plot focused on a power struggle between the haughty Queen Turmeric (Beth Holladay), with her toadie Lord Mendicant (Kris Gibbons), and the equally vile Queen Bergamot (Lisa Teixeira) that involved the up-and-coming Princess Bianca (Clare Flanigan and Becky Galante); her governess Dame Flora (Kevin Sheridan, gloriously over-the-top in traditional and outlandish drag); Prince Valiant (Alec Salameda and Karen Belgam); Squire George (Stephen Ashby); Digby the Gardener (Kevin Pizzini); a posse of dwarves who doubled as the Greek chorus; Goldilocks (Kaitlyn Diehl) and the Three Bears (Elea Feit, Michelle Opalesky, and Annie Belgam). The show's title comes from the mirror created by a wizard (Nancy Goyda) that always tells the truth. It was voiced by Chase Gibbons, who did a flawless job in his first speaking role with KATS.
The song by the Dragon Ensemble (Weston and Zula Ali-Calabrese; their mother Becca Calabrese, and Becca's sister Guenevere Calabrese-Finley) was a show-stopper. The children's chorus was adorable; they played minions, a fire brigade, and baby dragons.
The show was the 19th annual pantomime in the British Tradition presented by the Kennett Amateur Theatrical Society. Gary Smith, one of the KATS founders, wrote the show and the songs, and his wife, Caroline Smith, was the director. The tuxedo-clad Gary was handing out programs at the door, and Caroline opened the show wearing a stunning liquid-silver gown.
Some friends of ours who are recent transplants from Manhattan attended the Panto for the first time and were impressed: "It was great! Very talented people!"
The show was held as scheduled on Friday evening, Jan. 17, at Kennett High School, but then the Saturday shows had to be postponed until Sunday due to the snow. Parking was at a premium on Sunday because there was also a wrestling tournament being held at the school. We nabbed the very last spot in the little parking lot across South Street and then hustled up the steep hill to the auditorium.
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