A NIGHT AT THE WAX MUSEUM Hills Youth Theatre Stirling Community Theatre Until 21 Aug 2016 Review by Talia Gaertner-Jones There is mystery, history and mayhem galore in Hills Youth Theatre’s “A Night At The Wax Museum”. Judy Sampson has directed and coached a talented group of students who bring this show to life. The portrayal and attention to detail of many of the characters is to be commended. The Aunt’s Jolene (Imogen Deller-Evans) and Julene (Yolanda Tree) along with the old folks Ivy Sweet (Zoe Hilton), Ethel Lockhead (Ellie Bickerton) and Hazel Smith-Withy (Michelle Stewart) were automatically loved by the audience with their old, lady-like charm. Bickerton gained some laughter using her walking frame to the best of her advantage in their opening number “Rufus Ravenscroft”. Matilda Hilton as the teacher Heather Fairchild brought maturity to her role and developed a believable relationship with the museum handyman Skip Webster, Riordan Miller-Frost. The students Emily Blake (Fae Gehren), Victor Tates (Ben Krieg), Carrie Gale (Madeline Mackie), Rolf Rizzo (Oliver Peterson) and Lupe Lope (Holly Peter) all brought their own originality to their roles. Mackie and Krieg were highlights during “History Yuk” performing their parts with confidence and conviction. The remainder of the cast in roles of various wax figures did an outstanding job. And the direction of changing positions as the spell was coming to life was very effective. Chloe Zodrow as Cleopatra and William Armfield as Henry VIII were aptly suited to their roles and were hilarious in ‘Egyptian Love’. Pirates Raife Gehren as Blackbeard and Jordan Hatswell as Anne Bonny were fierce and feisty and Serenna Williams as Calamity Jane had her accent perfected and character spot on. As well as being talented performers Mackie, Hatswell and Zodrow are also listed as choreographers for the show. It is great to see these young performers get opportunities to enhance their skills in more areas than one. The set of the museum was minimal, however due to the vastness of characters it worked well. And costumes sourced by Sampson and the cast brought each character to life. Matilda Butler as Anne Boleyn looked very much the part, right down to the slit on her throat! “A Night At The Wax Museum” will have you chuckling in your seats and maybe even learning some history facts along the way.