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Post by happysooz2 on Dec 24, 2023 22:09:16 GMT
My fears about the seats were resolved by upgrading my husband and daughter to the circle when dynamic pricing really kicked it at about 11am today. My friend and I stayed in the severely restricted view seats. Row C is less restricted than Row B and we thought it was the bargain of the century. The only thing I couldn’t see was the back of the stage (where very little happens) and Nigel after he came out of the musculator. Overall, this was my highlight of the year. First time at the Palladium panto and I’d go back and watch it again tomorrow. Gosh you must have had a bad year.. I hated this. Same tired old jokes as every year. No originality. Thank god for Julian Clary. I’ve had worse 😹 Pound for pound, best £20 I’ve spent this year. But I 100% agree on Julian. |
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Post by ghw894 on Dec 27, 2023 23:53:39 GMT
Been to see this tonight and here’s my thoughts, honest review coming up and very much my opinion (I’ve been ever since they came back and have loved all of them!)
- Rob Madge was truly the ‘star’ of this show. The audience responded to them the most and he didn’t struggle to get a laugh. I’m glad to see he was featured more than another industry professional would perhaps be in this role..
- I have to say Paul Zerdin looked as if he was done and didn’t want to be there. He very much ‘phoned it in’
- Nigel Havers appeared much less than previous years but when he did, he looked as if he was having the most fun - you can’t not love him.
- Gary Wilmot was ‘there’. He didn’t really give much and I thought his song was weak this year in comparison to previous years.
- Louis and Francis were absolutely great in their roles… albeit, limited in what they were given.
Onto the main two…
Julian Clary was just fantastic - he always is. He could just be there and people would laugh with him. However, I don’t think pairing him with Jennifer Saunders worked at all. The two of them really struggled to get laughs from the audience when on stage together. Jennifer looks like she’s having great fun but I’m not sure panto is her ‘thing’. She struggled to connect with the audience and it was her ‘moment’ in Act 2 that got the most laughs, even then, subdued.
It just felt like something was missing in this production. The big wow factor wasn’t there. The Act One finale is great but when you’ve already seen an element of it right at the beginning of the show, it didn’t give the same wow in comparison to the beanstalk or flying carpet in previous years.
Perhaps it’s just Peter Pan as a panto that struggles more so than the others. I had a great night, that goes without saying but I just felt like it needed more oomph!
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Post by Jon on Dec 28, 2023 16:53:07 GMT
Peter Pan's issue is that it's not one you can freely adapt as a panto unlike say Jack and the Beanstalk or Cinderella.
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Post by lotster on Dec 28, 2023 17:03:39 GMT
I saw this before Christmas and really enjoyed it, but I must say the story of Peter Pan isn't my favourite. Wonder what it'll be next year?
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Post by Jon on Dec 28, 2023 17:16:03 GMT
I saw this before Christmas and really enjoyed it, but I must say the story of Peter Pan isn't my favourite. Wonder what it'll be next year? I don't see them doing Aladdin and indeed Crossroads doesn't seem to be doing that title across their slate so maybe Sleeping Beauty? |
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Post by theatrefan62 on Dec 28, 2023 17:24:30 GMT
I agree, Aladdin is a bit too problematic at the moment. Although London could probably cast it appropriately, it's not just about the London production. The Palladium is the launchpad for new productions that go around the UK for years to come.
Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the beast, Robin Hood/Babes in the wood, Beauty and the beast, and Robinson Crusoe are all prime for a big new production worthy of the number 1 venues in the UK.
Mother Goose isn't really done anymore and could be ideal for the Palladium. But after Ian McKellens one they may wait.
Newcastle seems to be the try out for newer titles with Pinocchio this year, and Little Mermaid next.
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Post by Jon on Dec 28, 2023 17:50:23 GMT
I agree, Aladdin is a bit too problematic at the moment. Although London could probably cast it appropriately, it's not just about the London production. The Palladium is the launchpad for new productions that go around the UK for years to come. Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the beast, Robin Hood/Babes in the wood, Beauty and the beast, and Robinson Crusoe are all prime for a big new production worthy of the number 1 venues in the UK. Mother Goose isn't really done anymore and could be ideal for the Palladium. But after Ian McKellens one they may wait. Newcastle seems to be the try out for newer titles with Pinocchio this year, and Little Mermaid next. Beauty and the Beast is being done in Richmond next year so unlikely for the Palladium. I wonder if they'd risk a new title for the Palladium? I'm guessing it's unlikely since Newcastle is the testbed although Humpty Dumpty which was supposed to debut in 2020 hasn't appeared yet. I think after two back to back male titles, I think they'll a female title. |
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Post by ghw894 on Dec 28, 2023 19:42:10 GMT
I’m expecting Sleeping Beauty for 2024!
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Post by westended on Dec 29, 2023 21:08:18 GMT
Does the Peter Pan programme contain a page confirming the panto’s return for 2024?
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Post by Sean on Dec 29, 2023 21:09:57 GMT
Does the Peter Pan programme contain a page confirming the panto’s return for 2024? Yes. |
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Post by westended on Dec 30, 2023 12:42:22 GMT
Has anybody done the Pre-Show Tour before Peter Pan?
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Post by alexanderdavies1994 on Dec 30, 2023 12:49:43 GMT
Yes. I did the pre-show tour. Nothing majorly new to see, a few areas reserved for special guests usually (with some costumes from previous pantos). A nice experience though.
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Post by westended on Dec 30, 2023 16:33:05 GMT
Yes. I did the pre-show tour. Nothing majorly new to see, a few areas reserved for special guests usually (with some costumes from previous pantos). A nice experience though. Do you get to go onstage/sub-stage? |
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Post by bimse on Dec 30, 2023 18:42:55 GMT
Yes. I did the pre-show tour. Nothing majorly new to see, a few areas reserved for special guests usually (with some costumes from previous pantos). A nice experience though. I went on a Palladium tour, a few years ago when Oliver! had recently opened, we got to stand on the stage, and walk across it, which was a good experience, I couldn’t believe how small the stage is, in terms of depth and wing space, and I loved all the old posters throughout the theatre, I hope they’re all still there . |
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Post by alexanderdavies1994 on Dec 31, 2023 17:14:53 GMT
Yes. I did the pre-show tour. Nothing majorly new to see, a few areas reserved for special guests usually (with some costumes from previous pantos). A nice experience though. Do you get to go onstage/sub-stage? Unfortunately not. Just FOH and VIP areas. |
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Post by fiyero on Dec 31, 2023 19:24:08 GMT
After seeing all the comments on restricted side seats and being a bit worried I took to my long booked seat D37. Booked as soon as they went on sale at £40 as our normal front row upper circle ones cost too much now the bar is gone. I’ve sat side stalls before and thought I knew what to expect.  i.ibb.co/F3hy5LM/IMG-8022.jpgIt was worse than I expected and I don’t have much time to play with. FoH said to speak to a supervisor who said to speak to Box Office who said “more money please”. With 7 minutes until curtain I gave them another £35 to move to the middle of row J. I never spend £75 on a single ticket! The view was glorious, normally £195 I’m lead to believe. I adored the show too but still can’t get over them thinking my original seat is a £40 seat. Box Office said they don’t set the prices so is it the producer I need to complain too? |
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Post by stevej678 on Dec 31, 2023 20:03:01 GMT
This show is like a sugar rush. Enjoyable in the moment but instantly forgettable on leaving the theatre.
Paul Zerdin appeared to be going through the motions and while Jennifer Saunders looked to be having a great time, something was missing for me that no amount of "darlings" or "sweeties" could save.
I found Tink quite irritating. Not a reflection on Rob Madge but as a character, Tink seemed to spend almost every moment they were on stage expressing their jealousy of Wendy! Over and over again.
You can see where the money goes and as a spectacle it really delivers, but it's all a bit soulless and stale. One clear exception to that was the lovely, heartfelt tribute to Paul O'Grady. There's a nice article in the programme about Paul's previous Palladium panto stints too.
Julian Clary and the lovable Nigel aside, I'd love to see them freshen up the lineup next year. That said, and despite its shortcomings, this is still event theatre that feels like a must-have in the calendar. That fear of missing out will no doubt mean I'm back at the Palladium next Christmas regardless of any misgivings and irrespective of what the 2024 panto offering might be!
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Post by mrbarnaby on Dec 31, 2023 21:51:44 GMT
Can’t quite believe anyone is enjoying this. It’s so dreadful.
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Post by fiyero on Dec 31, 2023 23:12:13 GMT
Can’t quite believe anyone is enjoying this. It’s so dreadful. I loved it but can see why many wouldn’t. I do think Paul Zerdin needs to go or mix it up next year. In many provincial pantos he could be the main star! The same routines plopped in every year, whatever the show. No hate on him as a performer but not sure this panto needs that anymore. Of course all the regulars have become repetitive too! The scale of the Palladium panto forgives a lot for me! Flying, pyrotechnics, lighting, size of cast etc. I also saw Richmond and Southampton pantos and the scale was tiny comparatively. Richmond is a much smaller theatre but I still expected flying or something exciting to end act 1. Next year I hope they have a singer as the extra celebrity. I loved the ones with Elaine, Bev, Donny etc. You can stick in some random songs and it makes sense why (rather than Captain Hook pretending to be a sitcom character!) |
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Post by Jon on Dec 31, 2023 23:17:26 GMT
I'd keep Julian but rest Havers, Wilmot and Zerdin and bring in new names.
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Post by marob on Dec 31, 2023 23:31:26 GMT
Many of the regulars could do with a rest next year, but of course they’ll all still be there. This show absolutely belongs to Julian Clary though. Can’t imagine what it’s like if he’s ever off.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jan 1, 2024 0:10:05 GMT
It’s the laziness of it that I don’t understand.
The Nigel havers joke is old. As is him pretending to corpse at everything.
They are missing a trick by not making it fresh each year.
Maybe fine if it’s your first visit, but if you’ve been before- it’s all the same old schtick.
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Post by mattnyc on Jan 1, 2024 0:31:51 GMT
I'd keep Julian but rest Havers, Wilmot and Zerdin and bring in new names. I agree with this. However, I still DID find this year to be fresher than the past years, even if the jokes themselves were old - I felt they did enough to freshen (most of) them up to make it feel different. |
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Post by ladidah on Jan 2, 2024 9:45:36 GMT
They really need to mix up the cast every now and then.
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Post by lotster on Jan 2, 2024 10:40:17 GMT
I agree in a way, but in another way I think the "old gang" is what a lot of people go for. You know exactly what you're going to get with Clary/Havers/Wilmot/Zerdin and in some ways it's a winning formula. They do vary the other cast members, so I'd be surprised they'd risk changing things, especially given how well it sells (and at very high prices).
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