SNOW WHITE'S PIZZA PALACE: Spotlight Theatre Company

Covernton Hall, Strathmont Centre, Oakden

Until August 31

Reviewed by Rod Lewis

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SPOTLIGHT Theatre Company's inaugural youth group production goes one step further than teaching kids to act.

The young members, aged 11 to 20, chose the play, selected the songs and take an active role on the stage and off.

Based loosely on Disney's animated version of the Snow White tale, Rod Clark's peculiar play has King Platitude's kingdom financed by his successful chain of pizza stores, now controlled by his evil second wife, Queen Reflecta.

Left in the forest to die, Snow White is welcomed into the home of seven union-conscious dwarfs, where she resides until being tricked into sampling a poisoned slice of pizza.

Most of the ensemble are experiencing their theatrical debut, making for a commendable though uneven production.

Chelsey Gligora is sweet as Snow White, while Stephen Tulip is suitably stiff as the regal King Platitude.

Their nemesis, Queen Reflecta, is deliciously evil, although Natalie Feil could find more success by taking the character further over the top like Sarah Draper does as her lasciviously outrageous daughter, Robusta.

While Bradley Bentham will assume the role of Bangers for the second weekend, Garion Hamilton bounces well off counterpart Ben Horton as Mash. These two lads are nicely laid back, but miss quite a few laughs from lack of vocal volume.

Troy Brailsford's initial discomfort as Dame Nothing soon disappears and matches the gusto of Stephanie Kammerman as Prince Harry.

All the inexperienced cast suffer from various problems of diction and projection, undoubtedly borne out of opening night nerves. But they react well to audience participation, responding appropriately and quickly.

Co-directed by Spotlight stalwart Jenny Hallam (also acting as musical director) and student director Susie Daniels, the play is surprisingly stilted in some places.

Delivery of lines and the timing of entrances also need to be a lot tighter.

The choral work is clear and easy on the ear and the few bits of choreography by Dallas Jones and Yasmin Reeves-Eyre are good, but it would have been nice to see more routines to accompany the singing.

Like in The Wizard of Oz, Snow White's castle home is featureless and dry compared to the colour and detail of the forest, the dwarfs' home and the general costuming of the ''outside world''.

This subtle touch is visually effective and adds to the discrepancy between Snow White's life inside and out of the castle.

And the creation of the magic mirror is imaginative and effective.

More confidence and a lot more tightening up of the action should make Snow White's Pizza Palace a pleasing feast from our future entertainers.