Jimmy Hodge, Kent/Medway Messenger 14th March 2003

"Each year the wily Gillingham Operatic Society stages its pantomime as late as possible, to take advantage of the February half-term holiday. The result: Full houses at its four performances of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Snow White is all the more difficult when faced with finding dwarfs, but the society pulled it off admirably, using children who worked as a well-drilled mischievous team. Director Julie May succeeded in adding some Disney atmosphere through the colourful costumes and scenery, particularly those worn by Kayleigh Smith in the leading role and Claire Langdon-Shreeve as the evil queen. The comic capers of Peter Lowe (Dora Dumpling), Matt Batey (Muddles) and Gerald Flanagan (Chamberlain) kept the scores of children in the theatre happy.
It was a pleasure to see the return of a traditional, tight-clad, thigh-slapping principal boy, played by Zoey Parkin. A small part but well-performed. Indeed there were many people with small parts - the roles which, if not done well, can make the whole show suffer. A good production with lots of pace and some excellent effects, particularly the one used to project an image from the mirror the queen uses to ask "who is the fairest in the land?"

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