Review of Little Red Riding Hood 15/12/2023

 I saw a performance of Little Red Riding Hood back in December, presented by the Leeds University Union's Pantomime Society. Here is that piece below

A SPIRITED GOOD TIME – LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.

LUU puts a fun twist on Little Red Riding Hood from a University standpoint

A review of the performance on Friday 15^th December 2023

LUU Pantomime Society’s ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ kicks off with a performance of  Katy Perry’s ‘Last Friday Night’ but it’s a ‘Fruity’ night, of course referencing Leeds student club. Instead of skinny dipping in the dark, we are skinny dipping in ‘Hyde Park’ and animation of Leeds plays behind the performers. Georgie (Elysce Hastie) the sister of Red, begins and narrates the story and is one of the standout performers of the show.

We are introduced to Red (Clara Faraday-Smith) While some of the dancing in the following number 6-5 (a play on Dolly Parton’s 9-5) is a little out of sync, the singing is excellent and the whole cast give it their all.  

Crimson, Red and Gorgie’s mother is a hoot played by Hannah ‘Ham Holden’ Crimson makes references to the ‘Free the Nipple’ movement and at multiple times in the show comes into the audience for interactions.

 In the first half Red meets Prince Charming and Faraday-Smith gives us a moving performance of Taylor Swift’s ‘Enchanted’ ,there is some excellent ballet dancing (Dancers, Katherine Charlton, Viola Huf, Annabel Moody, Katie Quinn-Yumsak, Caroline Rauch) and the band gives a fantastic backing to her voice.

Act one closes out with a fun performance of Pat Benatar’s ‘Hit me With Your Best Shot’

After intermission the show begins with Mamma Mia’s ‘Does Your Mamma Know?’ Crimson heads into the audience and befriends an audience member named Amy. The audience is in stitches at Holden’s natural talent for physical comedy. There are further performances of the Neon’s Trees ‘Animal’ and ‘Darling it’s cold Outside’ with a joke about Bob the Builder. There is a standout performance of Demi Lovato’s ‘Skyscraper’

In the penultimate Scene the Prince asks for permission to wed Red. The penultimate song is the Beatle’s ‘All You Need is Love’ Gorgie once again narrates the closing scene. Snow White and Cinderella get together, Red gets her degree and meets her Prince Charming, Blanches servants are paid. The final song is Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ always a crowd pleaser and the audience are on their feet for an encore.

Little Red Riding Hood was performed at the Riley Smith Lecture Theatre from 14^th-16^th December 2023. For future performances by the LUU Pantomime society please consult their Facebook here here  and Instagram here here  For further information on the LUU Backstage society please consult their society page here here