|
To this
day, the origins of the fairytale Snow White remain a mystery. What is
known is that it was one of the many folk tales collected over a hundred
and eighty years ago by the Brothers Grimm. As with so many other
pantomime stories, the values of this tale are held and shared by most of
us near mortals, good will triumph over evil, the weak will overcome the
mighty etc. Its popularity is without question, not least as a result of
the Academy Award winning animation of Walt Disney. From an actors point
of view, the role of Red Queen has to be unrivalled as the epitome of
female "baddies". It is a role Vicki loves, allowing her to
exploit every aspect of her feminine wiles and treachery to the utmost and
as you might expect, relishing every "boo" and "hiss"
hurled back at her across the footlights from the bright-eyed,
enthusiastic children of all ages in the audience.
2001/02 saw Vicki at the
Broadway Theatre, Lewisham. Here she topped the bill with children’s
presenter Mark Speight playing a whacky and zany Muddles. Popular
ventriloquist Ward Allen with his faithful dog Roger joined forces as the
Lord Chamberlain while Collette Bibby, Paul Manuel, Graham Richards and
Nigel Garton completed the cast.
For the 2000/01 Qdos
production of Snow White and the seven Dwarfs, Vicki found herself topping
the bill and teamed with Rhodri Williams as the Prince and the hilarious
impressionist Fogwell Flax as Muddles. I one of her finest portrayals as
the Wicked Red Queen we were treated to some dynamic vocal renditions of
I’ll Put a Spell on You and Sex Bomb. Radio personality John Gaunt battled
to no avail as henchman Oddjob against his villainess mistress.
The 1988/89 Qdos production
at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham was a particularly memorable
experience for Vicki who starred as Red Queen opposite Rod Hull and Emu
and Hill’s Angel Louise English as Snow White. |
