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Post by tonyloco on Nov 6, 2017 23:45:00 GMT
I'm probably in a minority but I really don't like pantos. I have only seen one in my long adult life which was when Sir Ian played the dame at The Old Vic buy that was because I wanted to see him. I'm too much of a miserable git to like them. Well, if your dislike of pantos is based on seeing Sir Ian at the Old Vic then I am not surprised. I thought it was probably the worst panto I have ever seen. Sir Ian's Dame was filthy without any redeeming charm or humorous qualities that would appeal to the children in the audience and in general, the company failed miserably to perform correctly any of the traditional panto slapstick routines like the ghost scene. I can guarantee that, miserable git or not, you would have been totally won over had you seen 'Mother Goose' with Clive Rowe at the Hackney Empire a few years ago. In all my many years of theatre-going it was one of the most enjoyable and satisfying shows I have ever seen in every respect, not just as a panto but as a wonderful musical. In fact, the serious moments where some of the characters had to choose between good and evil were quite moving and yet it included all the traditional panto fun as well as some musical numbers that were right up to the best West End standards, and there was not a weak link anywhere in the entire show. |
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Post by alece10 on Nov 7, 2017 7:56:26 GMT
I'm probably in a minority but I really don't like pantos. I have only seen one in my long adult life which was when Sir Ian played the dame at The Old Vic buy that was because I wanted to see him. I'm too much of a miserable git to like them. Well, if your dislike of pantos is based on seeing Sir Ian at the Old Vic then I am not surprised. I thought it was probably the worst panto I have ever seen. Sir Ian's Dame was filthy without any redeeming charm or humorous qualities that would appeal to the children in the audience and in general, the company failed miserably to perform correctly any of the traditional panto slapstick routines like the ghost scene. I can guarantee that, miserable git or not, you would have been totally won over had you seen 'Mother Goose' with Clive Rowe at the Hackney Empire a few years ago. In all my many years of theatre-going it was one of the most enjoyable and satisfying shows I have ever seen in every respect, not just as a panto but as a wonderful musical. In fact, the serious moments where some of the characters had to choose between good and evil were quite moving and yet it included all the traditional panto fun as well as some musical numbers that were right up to the best West End standards, and there was not a weak link anywhere in the entire show. Actually that was the panto I did like, I think it was the "filth" I enjoyed and the fact that the kids had no idea what was being said but the adults knew it was filthy. Still wouldn't make me want to see another one, well unless someone bought me a ticket to see the Palladium one. With regard to Clive Rowe, I have a friend who goes every year to Hackney Empire just to see him as dame and is very disappointed that he is not doing it this year. |
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Post by tonyloco on Nov 7, 2017 11:43:43 GMT
Actually that was the panto I did like, I think it was the "filth" I enjoyed and the fact that the kids had no idea what was being said but the adults knew it was filthy. Still wouldn't make me want to see another one, well unless someone bought me a ticket to see the Palladium one. With regard to Clive Rowe, I have a friend who goes every year to Hackney Empire just to see him as dame and is very disappointed that he is not doing it this year. Well, your friend has only to go to Wimbledon to see Clive Rowe's Dame this year in 'Jack and the Beanstalk' but I will be surprised if the whole show will be as good as it has been in recent years at Hackney. |
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Post by alece10 on Nov 7, 2017 11:45:52 GMT
Actually that was the panto I did like, I think it was the "filth" I enjoyed and the fact that the kids had no idea what was being said but the adults knew it was filthy. Still wouldn't make me want to see another one, well unless someone bought me a ticket to see the Palladium one. With regard to Clive Rowe, I have a friend who goes every year to Hackney Empire just to see him as dame and is very disappointed that he is not doing it this year. Well, your friend has only to go to Wimbledon to see Clive Rowe's Dame this year in 'Jack and the Beanstalk' but I will be surprised if the whole show will be as good as it has been in recent years at Hackney. Thanks for that she will be thrilled. |
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Post by QueerTheatre on Nov 7, 2017 12:44:16 GMT
The Hackney Panto works brilliantly without Clive, he's great sure... but the whole ethos and joy of their productions worked just as well last year without him.
I also love the Stratford East pantos every year - they're always so brilliantly inclusive & representative of their audiences.
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Post by tmesis on Nov 7, 2017 13:11:14 GMT
I don't like pantomimes but I think it's early conditioning that's turned me off them. As a child growing up in Derbyshire in the 50s and 60s my parents took me every year to the panto, usually at the Lyceum in Sheffield and sometimes the Theatre Royal in Nottingham. I remember enjoying the 'day out' aspect of it, with the usual associated trip to a Berni Inn or the Kardomah but right from the word go I never enjoyed the panto. Even at 5 years old I found it puerile and the audience participation embarrassing. We went every year for about a decade and then for some reason stopped when I was around 15.
Fast forward about 20 years later to a conversation in the pub with my parents...
Me: 'You know I hated going to the pantomime as a kid but I just used to put up with it cause I know you liked it.'
Parents: 'Oh! no we couldn't stand it, we only went because we thought you enjoyed it.'
All those wasted trips...*
*but the Berni Inn was nice.
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Post by alece10 on Nov 7, 2017 13:39:42 GMT
I don't like pantomimes but I think it's early conditioning that's turned me off them. As a child growing up in Derbyshire in the 50s and 60s my parents took me every year to the panto, usually at the Lyceum in Sheffield and sometimes the Theatre Royal in Nottingham. I remember enjoying the 'day out' aspect of it, with the usual associated trip to a Berni Inn or the Kardomah but right from the word go I never enjoyed the panto. Even at 5 years old I found it puerile and the audience participation embarrassing. We went every year for about a decade and then for some reason stopped when I was around 15. Fast forward about 20 years later to a conversation in the pub with my parents... Me: 'You know I hated going to the pantomime as a kid but I just used to put up with it cause I know you liked it.' Parents: 'Oh! no we couldn't stand it, we only went because we thought you enjoyed it.' All those wasted trips...* *but the Berni Inn was nice. You couldn't beat a good old Berni. Prawn cocktail, steak and blackforest gateau. Such a treat. My mum used to have pineapple juice which in the 70s was actually a starter. (Britvic). |
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Post by Tibidabo on Nov 7, 2017 14:18:19 GMT
Three cheers for Tony! Hip hip...... replacement! Oh trust me Tony, it already has been, many many times! As it happened, during this morning's all person staff briefing, the date of the Whole School Jolly Old Trip To The Pantomime was announced. There was an extremely loud collective groan, which finished slightly sooner than I had anticipated, just in time for them all to hear me excitedly imparting the above stolen 'Hip Hip replacement!' line to my neighbour. Long story short.....it would, um, appear that we are doing away with the traditional nativity this year and, um, Someone has been commissioned with writing a panto script.......oooer. (All rubbish jokes gratefully received...) |
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Post by TallPaul on Nov 7, 2017 14:25:27 GMT
@theatremonkey, this is the opportunity you've been waiting your whole life for. Oh yes it is!!
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Post by Tibidabo on Nov 7, 2017 14:27:19 GMT
@theatremonkey , this is the opportunity you've been waiting your whole life for. Oh yes it is!! Oh..er...maybe I didn't think this through properly.... |
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Post by Tibidabo on Nov 7, 2017 14:35:30 GMT
The worst panto appearance I ever saw was Frank Bruno , in Bradford . I can’t call it a “performance” because he simply didn’t do anything Bruno went “HU HU HU HU” in his deep voice , and walked off. I've written about Frank Bruno before on the celebrity casting thread. Very similar to your Bradford story bimse , he was playing the genie at Wimbledon a million years ago and was the first celebrity I had seen in anything ever. He rode onto the stage on a tiny kiddie tricycle (which some people found truly hilarious) grunted a bit and rode off. Twice. That was it. It was truly dreadful. It put me off celebrity casting to such an extent that I actively avoid it. |
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Post by tonyloco on Nov 7, 2017 15:35:17 GMT
Ooer indeed! Lots of funny stuff going on in this thread at present which I am enjoying.
And perhaps I should now admit that I don't really like a lot of the traditional panto activities like the children yelling and the song sheet number and the totally irrelevant speciality act or participation of an equally irrelevant celebrity but somehow I am intrigued by certain aspects of the genre and I can't keep away. Perhaps I need therapy – Oh no I don't – Oh yes I do.....!
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Post by bimse on Nov 7, 2017 16:32:56 GMT
The worst panto appearance I ever saw was Frank Bruno , in Bradford . I can’t call it a “performance” because he simply didn’t do anything Bruno went “HU HU HU HU” in his deep voice , and walked off. I've written about Frank Bruno before on the celebrity casting thread. Very similar to your Bradford story bimse , he was playing the genie at Wimbledon a million years ago and was the first celebrity I had seen in anything ever. He rode onto the stage on a tiny kiddie tricycle (which some people found truly hilarious) grunted a bit and rode off. Twice. That was it. It was truly dreadful. It put me off celebrity casting to such an extent that I actively avoid it. Glad it’s not just me that’s deeply unimpressed by celebrities with nothing to offer this important aspect of our culture Tibidabo. I’m told Pamela Anderson was quite dreadful in her panto appearances too, as were most of the big brother contestants who suddenly think they’re performers . I can’t imagine why anyone would see them as any kind of attraction ? Brendan off coach trip anyone? But maybe I’m being unfair, I don’t know what talents Brendan has to offer , he might be an accomplished panto performer for all I know . |
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Post by Tibidabo on Nov 7, 2017 16:45:27 GMT
Brendan off coach trip anyone? But maybe I’m being unfair, I don’t know what talents Brendan has to offer , he might be an accomplished panto performer for all I know .Oh no he isn't.. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 16:56:44 GMT
Brendan off coach trip anyone? But maybe I’m being unfair, I don’t know what talents Brendan has to offer , he might be an accomplished panto performer for all I know .Oh no he isn't.. Oh yes he is... (apparently!) (From Brendan’s website:) Pantomimes Starkey, Peter Pan December 2017, Hull New Theatre The King, Sleeping Beauty December 2016, The Grand, Swansea Baron Hard-up, Cinderella, December 2015, Darlington Civic Theatre The King, Jack and the Beanstalk, December 2014, Lyceum Theatre, Crewe King Stefan, Sleeping Beauty, December 2013, Venue Cymru, Llandudno Baron Hard-up, Cinderella, December 2012, Alhambra Theatre, Bradford Herman the Henchman, Snow White and the seven dwarfs, December 2011, Southport Theatre The Sultan, Aladdin, December 2010, Southport Theatre More accomplished than me anyway...! |
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Post by bimse on Nov 7, 2017 17:23:49 GMT
Oh yes he is... (apparently!) (From Brendan’s website:) Pantomimes Starkey, Peter Pan December 2017, Hull New Theatre The King, Sleeping Beauty December 2016, The Grand, Swansea Baron Hard-up, Cinderella, December 2015, Darlington Civic Theatre The King, Jack and the Beanstalk, December 2014, Lyceum Theatre, Crewe King Stefan, Sleeping Beauty, December 2013, Venue Cymru, Llandudno Baron Hard-up, Cinderella, December 2012, Alhambra Theatre, Bradford Herman the Henchman, Snow White and the seven dwarfs, December 2011, Southport Theatre The Sultan, Aladdin, December 2010, Southport Theatre More accomplished than me anyway...! But is he any good? What is his “spesh”? Does he do the “busy bee” or the “tree of truth”? |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 17:34:12 GMT
He does “The Wheels On The Bus Go Round And Round”. In Spanish. With a rose in between his teeth. (A kind of ventriloquism...) Wearing incredibly tight bullfighter’s pants. Whatever part he’s playing.
Now that’s what I call “accomplished”...
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Post by bimse on Nov 7, 2017 18:06:38 GMT
He does “The Wheels On The Bus Go Round And Round”. In Spanish. With a rose in between his teeth. (A kind of ventriloquism...) Wearing incredibly tight bullfighter’s pants. Whatever part he’s playing. Now that’s what I call “accomplished”... I rest my case ....... |
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Post by tmesis on Nov 8, 2017 8:49:52 GMT
I don't like pantomimes but I think it's early conditioning that's turned me off them. As a child growing up in Derbyshire in the 50s and 60s my parents took me every year to the panto, usually at the Lyceum in Sheffield and sometimes the Theatre Royal in Nottingham. I remember enjoying the 'day out' aspect of it, with the usual associated trip to a Berni Inn or the Kardomah but right from the word go I never enjoyed the panto. Even at 5 years old I found it puerile and the audience participation embarrassing. We went every year for about a decade and then for some reason stopped when I was around 15. Fast forward about 20 years later to a conversation in the pub with my parents... Me: 'You know I hated going to the pantomime as a kid but I just used to put up with it cause I know you liked it.' Parents: 'Oh! no we couldn't stand it, we only went because we thought you enjoyed it.' All those wasted trips...* *but the Berni Inn was nice. You couldn't beat a good old Berni. Prawn cocktail, steak and blackforest gateau. Such a treat. My mum used to have pineapple juice which in the 70s was actually a starter. (Britvic). I actually worked in a Berni Inn as a student. This was The Wheatsheaf in Virginia Water. I didn't find them very nice to work for but I was an absolute genius in one of my duties: making the cream float on a Gaelic coffee - you make it really sweet and then it floats beautifully - unfortunately if someone asks for no sugar you're buggered. Reading one of Paul O'Grady autobiographies I was amazed to discover he also worked there too and, doing the maths, we must have just missed each other by months! He hated the place as well... |
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Post by lewis on Nov 26, 2017 17:58:26 GMT
any christmas show reports?
Caught the oxford playhouse pantomime jack and the beanstalk and thought it was the strongest its been for a couple of years. Although opening night seemed to have a semi-lame jack - i think carrying an injury from tech!
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Post by daniel on Dec 9, 2017 21:13:40 GMT
This year is the year that Qdos take over 9 of ATG's 10 pantos from FFE (the other one going to UK Productions), so it'll be interesting to see if there's any noticable change in quality compared to previous years. Looking forward to hearing @theatremonkey's thoughts on Wimbledon.
I'm at the Palladium tonight, Wimbledon on Tuesday, Birmingham for opening and closing performances, Theatr Clywd just before Christmas, and there's a few maybes too!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2017 21:49:55 GMT
Apart from Al and Clive who else is in the Wimbledon Panto
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Post by Sotongal on Dec 9, 2017 22:06:58 GMT
Jack and the Beanstalk at Salisbury Playhouse is excellent. It feels fresh, the cast are great (no celebs!), as is the choreography. The costumes and sets are bright and colourful and not overly glittery. It's very well written, sound and diction is good - you can hear every word clearly pronounced even when the music is playing.
And The Stage gave it 5*.
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Post by daniel on Dec 9, 2017 23:38:46 GMT
I've shared my thoughts on the Palladium's Dick Whittington over on that thread, should anybody be interested.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2017 8:18:01 GMT
Apart from Al and Clive who else is in the Wimbledon Panto Liam Tamne's Jack and Charlotte Gooch is the Princess. Robyn Mellor is Spirit of the Beans. John Jack is Fleshcreep. |
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