Review of At the Torch from the theatre dance and drama in Wales web site

Panto hero’s mission to save Christmas Day.

At the Torch

Torch Theatre- Danny and the Donkey Man , Torch Theatre, Milford Haven , December 6, 2002

It is Christmas Day, and Danny (Huw Bevan) and his mum (Kyra Williams) are saving money to go to Lapland and see Father Christmas next year, so Danny’s only present is a game for his hand-held game station, ridiculed by his so-called friends for being – horror of horrors – at least a year old, and therefore not cool.

But Danny ends up having the most exciting Christmas of all when a voice booms out from inside the game station: it is Merlin the Wizard (George Waring), one of the characters in the game, and he needs Danny’s help.

The Ice Maiden, Rinigar (Kyra Williams) has stolen the wizard’s crystal, and with the help of her insectile sidekick, Beetlebones (Michael Neary) she wants to turn Christmas Day into Rinigar Day!

Agrid (Keith Woodason), a renowned warrior, knows where the crystal is, but the evil ice maiden ahs turned him into a Donkey Man with a rather bad memory. If Danny, aided and abetted by good old Crag (Louisa Tee) and grumpy Grumbletrash (Lee Mengo), can’t jog Agrid’s memory and find the crystal, Christmas Day is doomed!

With an original storyline, a colourful set, wacky costumes, and an up-beat, contemporary musical score, ‘Danny and the Donkey Man and the Search for the Magic Crystal’ is a refreshing change from the usual offerings trotted out in theatres during the festive season, and a big hit with the youngsters. I have never before seen such enthusiastic audience participation: they shouted, laughed, waved their arms and sang along with the performers throughout, as if they had been rehearsing their parts too.

At one point, I forgot that I was supposed to be a cynical hack and nearly found myself jumping up and down and shouting ‘he’s behind you!’ I managed to restrain myself, but only because a fellow journalist was sitting next to me, and the story may have got out.

‘Danny and the Donkey Man and the Search for the Magic Crystal’ will be performed for schools at the Torch Theatre until December 20th, with seats available to the public, subject to availability. From December 21st to December 28th performances will be open to the public.

Reviewed by: JENNY HANSON

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There are 81 other reviews of productions with this title in our database:

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At the Torch- reviewed by Tim Barrett (04 December 2017)
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At the Torch- reviewed by Tim Barrett (13 October 2017)
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At the Torch- reviewed by Michael Kelligan (04 March 2016)
At the Torch- reviewed by Adam Somerset (13 October 2015)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (09 December 2013)
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At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (03 December 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Adam Somerset (10 November 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Amanda Griffiths (15 October 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (08 October 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Jessie Condon (05 October 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Jessie Condon (03 August 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Victor Hallett (16 May 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Adam Somerset (10 May 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (27 April 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Victor Hallett (09 June 2011)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (14 May 2011)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (15 December 2010)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (11 October 2010)
At the Torch- reviewed by Tim Barrett (19 August 2010)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (13 August 2009)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (07 August 2009)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (04 August 2009)
At the Torch- reviewed by Adam Somerset (26 April 2009)
At the Torch- reviewed by Tim Barrett (12 December 2008)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (05 April 2008)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (04 December 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (25 October 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by Michael Kelligan (20 July 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by Michael Kelligan (09 March 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters, The Stage (16 February 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (12 February 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by Terry Johnson, The Stage (15 October 2005)
At the Torch- reviewed by Fiona Phillips (12 October 2005)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (06 October 2005)
At the Torch- reviewed by Simon Carr. Western Telegraph (09 December 2004)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (23 October 2004)
At the Torch- reviewed by Emma Jones, Western Telegraph (21 October 2004)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Walters, Milford Mercury (21 October 2004)
At the Torch- reviewed by Graham Williams (10 March 2004)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (06 February 2004)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (10 February 2003)
At the Torch- reviewed by Vivien Stoddart (06 February 2003)
At the Torch- reviewed by Jenny Hanson, Tenby Observer (05 February 2003)
At the Torch- reviewed by ANDREW DAVIES, TENBY OBSERVER (31 January 2003)
At the Torch- reviewed by Viv Stoddart, The Stage (06 December 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (06 December 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by ANDREW DAVIES, TENBY OBSERVER (06 December 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Assorted Edinburgh papers (02 August 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Zoe Hewett (26 March 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Zoe Hewett (09 March 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Michael Kelligan (09 March 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Rebecca Nesvet (28 February 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Viv Stoddart, The Stage (21 February 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Andrews Davies (15 February 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by MILFORD & WEST WALES MERCURY (15 February 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Keith Johnson, Western Telegaph (13 February 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Tenby Observer (07 December 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Viv Stoddart, Milford Mercury (07 December 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Janet Bott (07 December 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Fiona Phillips (05 December 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Vivien Stoddart (26 October 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (11 September 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (09 August 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Victoria Cooper (10 March 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Elaine Atack (03 March 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Rebecca Nesvett (28 February 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Vivien Stoddart (The Stage) (15 February 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (14 February 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (08 February 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (21 October 2000)

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