Festive spirit was in plentiful supply as the Kings Langley Players sung and danced their way into the New Year with this entertaining retelling of The Sleeping Beauty.

Under the direction of Andrew Knight, the stage was set for Princess Aurora to become enchanted by the spell of wicked fairy Carabosse, prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into a deep slumber that would last 100 years, only for her to be awoken by Prince Orlando.

Cat Jenkins (Aurora) and Sophie Palumbo (Orlando) led the line as the charming couple, with support from an admirable ensemble.

Roger Martin and Mike Crow embodied the pantomime spirit with jovial performances as King Norbert and Queen Dorothy alongside Connor James as Billy the put-upon Royal Butler, Corrine Swallow’s Kitty and a troupe of fairies (Rebecca Davey, Sue Pickard, Charlie Farrow and Karen Ashworth).

However, the show was well and truly stolen by the dastardly double act of Sally-Anne Rafferty (Carabosse) and Lisa Stone as the evil fairy’s talkative feline sidekick Spindleshanks. Though their dark plan ultimately fell flat, their bickering drew the biggest laughs of the show.

With songs throughout, including one scene filled with zombies dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller, all to the backing of musical director Clive Swan’s lively arrangement, The Sleeping Beauty proved to be a hugely enjoyable end to the Christmas season.

Michael Pickard