Which Pantomimes Are You Seeing This Year?

[firefingers]

Re: Aladdin. Surely the rules of "colourblind casting" apply. If race isn't a factor in the story then anyone of any race can play the roles. Some productions have some hangovers that need removing (PC Pong and other offensively pretend names still occasionally appear) but as a plot I can't see the issue.

[anxiousoctopus]

Dec 26, 2022 21:22:01 GMT firefingers said:

Re: Aladdin. Surely the rules of "colourblind casting" apply. If race isn't a factor in the story then anyone of any race can play the roles. Some productions have some hangovers that need removing (PC Pong and other offensively pretend names still occasionally appear) but as a plot I can't see the issue.

I’d argue that race very much matters in ‘Aladdin’ - a panto set in China, based on a story set in the Middle East.

Casting a white man and woman as Aladdin and Jasmine looks bad any way you frame it. Especially as ‘colourblind casting’ is usually used to help cast more diverse performers in traditionally white roles, rather than casting white people in roles that can be easily filled by a BAME / non-white performer

[firefingers]

Dec 26, 2022 22:55:04 GMT anxiousoctopus said:

Dec 26, 2022 21:22:01 GMT firefingers said:

Re: Aladdin. Surely the rules of "colourblind casting" apply. If race isn't a factor in the story then anyone of any race can play the roles. Some productions have some hangovers that need removing (PC Pong and other offensively pretend names still occasionally appear) but as a plot I can't see the issue.

I’d argue that race very much matters in ‘Aladdin’ - a panto set in China, based on a story set in the Middle East.

Casting a white man and woman as Aladdin and Jasmine looks bad any way you frame it. Especially as ‘colourblind casting’ is usually used to help cast more diverse performers in traditionally white roles, rather than casting white people in roles that can be easily filled by a BAME / non-white performer

So should the actors be of middle eastern heritage or Chinese heritage...? Or does it not matter as long as they aren't white, which would strongly suggest that the racial relation to the story... doesn't matter. 

And I mean the race of the people is immaterial to the plot. There is no racial tensions, no references to race playing a factor in the story. It's why you can colour blind cast Twelfth Night for example but not To Kill A Mockingbird. 

[David J]

Saw Goldilocks and the Three Bears at the Mayflower

Sadly Jason Donovan was off due to illness. Apparently something had been going through the cast with Faye Brookes off once last week, and it was a last minute decision for Jason. His understudy did his best at short notice. Even threw off one of his own items during 12 Days of Christmas to which the others mocked him. But there was a noticeable hole in proceedings.

Even Richard Caddell sounded hoarse to me. The show last night lacked a bit of oomph overall.

Enjoyed sooty and sweep, the visuals and liked the balancing act chap. Less the roller skating couple. I know they need to spend time getting harnesses on and off and readying themselves for each act but there were lulls in the pacing consequently.

3/5 stars

[anxiousoctopus]

Dec 27, 2022 10:42:34 GMT David J said:

Saw Goldilocks and the Three Bears at the Mayflower

Sadly Jason Donovan was off due to illness. Apparently something had been going through the cast with Faye Brookes off once last week, and it was a last minute decision for Jason. His understudy did his best at short notice. Even threw off one of his own items during 12 Days of Christmas to which the others mocked him. But there was a noticeable hole in proceedings.

Even Richard Caddell sounded hoarse to me. The show last night lacked a bit of oomph overall.

Enjoyed sooty and sweep, the visuals and liked the balancing act chap. Less the roller skating couple. I know they need to spend time getting harnesses on and off and readying themselves for each act but there were lulls in the pacing consequently.

3/5 stars

Weirdly I felt the opposite - loved the roller-skaters, thought the balancing act wasn’t as engaging. Maybe they were having an off day, but their tricks felt a lot more impressive!

[Dr Tom]

Friday evening, braved Goldilocks in Richmond, thanks to a excellent fourth row aisle price promise seat. Thankfully not in the centre of the third row, unlike Brian, who got a lot of attention during the show.

Essentially. this is the Palladium production from a few years ago (with rewrites - and a lot of standard gags/sequences from other pantomimes). After the Palladium, this went to Birmingham and even has one of the Birmingham cast as director. The beauty of Goldilocks is the circus theme and being able to pull in different speciality acts. We got magician Phil Hitchcock, who was also in the Palladium version, plus juggler Grdon Marquez (who is the best juggler I can remember seeing without fire or sharp edges being involved - his balls in mouth juggling is quite a skill). Not quite the scale of the Palladium at any point.

What we didn't get was Matt Baker reprising his role as Joey The Clown from the Palladium (although the One Show joke remained). Nor did we get the scheduled Goldilocks. Instead, two of the six ensemble, all current students at Laine Theatre Arts, stepped in. Quite surprising really to see a professional production rely so heavily on students. Everyone tried hard and I know this will look good on their CVs, but a 42nd Street medley with an ensemble of four doesn't really have the impact you might expect. But it is pantomime! Well done to Tia Gyngell (Goldilocks) and Reece Kilminster (Joey) for saving the show.

You really got a feel for how the audience was directed when, just before interval, Reece asked the audience if he should save the circus performance and walk the high wire and they yelled back no! He did anyway, got across in one go with a lot of encouragement from one of the other students in the ensemble, and got well deserved applause for what we were later told was only his second performance as the lead (the first being the matinee). A great personality too and I expect to see Reece on a West End stage.

Otherwise, a fun performance. Very family friendly (the only swearing I heard was from a nearby teenager when he got covered with water). I wish they'd retire the lip synching sequence. Some good gags and a pretty decent regional pantomime, in an easily accessible theatre for travel from central London. They must make a fortune in ice cream sales as they barely served everyone before the interval ended. The only other comment I have to make is that Jessica Martin stole the show with presence and star power and was criminally underused.

[talkingheads]

Alison Hammond joining Matt Slack in Birmingham. I assume this means we'll be allowed to join in with her jokes and sing over her?....

[Jon]

I wonder when they'll announce the Palladium Panto? I have a hunch it'll be around the time The Wizard of Oz opens as that is a Michael Harrison show.

[mattnyc]

Didn’t they announce last years Palladium Panto extremely late last year?

[wanderingranger]

Apr 19, 2023 11:36:45 GMT Jon said:

I wonder when they'll announce the Palladium Panto? I have a hunch it'll be around the time The Wizard of Oz opens as that is a Michael Harrison show.

That’s usually one of the last pantomimes to be announced. They tend to pick the title based on what name they can get outside of the usual folks. I remember Dick Whittington being slow because they couldn’t get a name for King Rat so EP came in.

[talkingheads]

Just had my annual trip to the Hackney Panto. Clive Rowe is as ever the doyenne of dames, wonderful connection with the audience, ribald repartee. Very, very long though. Two and a half hours before they even got to the birthdays and singalong, two hours forty five in total.

[david]

I paid a visit to Liverpool Everyman's Rock 'n' Roll Panto Cinderella last night. Despite a technical hitch with the trap door causing a small delay during the show (prompting a sing along to Beatles songs with the cast to pass the time), it was a really fun evening for both kids and adults.

With a nice mix of rock, pop and disco songs sung by the company of actor-musician cast members to accompany the book by writer Luke Barns with many of the cast present from previous years, there was plenty of sass, silliness and sparkle on display.

[stevej678]

Nov 19, 2023 19:34:33 GMT david said:

I paid a visit to Liverpool Everyman's Rock 'n' Roll Panto Cinderella last night. Despite a technical hitch with the trap door causing a small delay during the show (prompting a sing along to Beatles songs with the cast to pass the time), it was a really fun evening for both kids and adults.

With a nice mix of rock, pop and disco songs sung by the company of actor-musician cast members to accompany the book by writer Luke Barns with many of the cast present from previous years, there was plenty of sass, silliness and sparkle on display.

Saw this last night. Tradition dictates I go to the Liverpool Everyman for the first Monday evening of the run every year. Already booked for Rapunzel in 2024!

I enjoyed this year's offering of Cinderella, though I do miss the old Everyman rock and roll panto writing team of Mark Chatterton and Sarah A Nixon.

It's great to see Adam Keast back, front and centre, for his 21st Everyman panto. Although in the cast for Red Riding Hood last year, he was somewhat sidelined and peripheral to proceedings compared to usual.

Making her professional debut, Grace Venus proves a great find as the central character of Ellanora (aka Cinderella). There's such a natural charm and warmth to her performance. She also delivers terrific vocals on an eclectic variety of songs, from Radiohead's Creep to Bon Jovi's It's My Life, and provides the beating heart of this production.

The Everyman are certainly offering a unique, zany and empowering take on the classic Cinderella story. While it's a show that never takes itself too seriously, there's a nice, defiant message about acceptance there in amongst the larger-than-life characters and silly antics.

The ludicrousness of Adam Keast's character setting off to travel the world to track down Ellanora, despite knowing exactly where she lives, is especially daft! When he eventually does track her down at home, he finds her 'imprisoned' there behind bars which just slide open! There's silliness like that at every turn.

For me, the main disappointment here was that, considering this is a rock and roll panto, with a talented cast of actor musicians, I wished there was a little bit more music. 20-25 minutes in and I think we'd only had one proper song. It didn't help that some of the more upbeat numbers were heavily trimmed. The finale and encore of River Deep Mountain High is a blast, but it does highlight that a few more musical numbers like that, at the expense of some of the dialogue, wouldn't go amiss.

While the show perhaps doesn't fully take off until the finale, there's still lots to enjoy here along the way. It's certainly a fresh and contemporary take on Cinderella that continues the reinvention of the Everyman's festive staple.

There's more rock and roll panto fun for me in a couple of weeks when it's time for the annual visit to City Varieties in Leeds. Robin Hood is getting their rock and roll panto treatment this year.

[david]

Nov 21, 2023 20:03:28 GMT stevej678 said:

or me, the main disappointment here was that, considering this is a rock and roll panto, with a talented cast of actor musicians, I wished there was a little bit more music. 20-25 minutes in and I think we'd only had one proper song. It didn't help that some of the more upbeat numbers were heavily trimmed. The finale and encore of River Deep Mountain High is a blast, but it does highlight that a few more musical numbers like that, at the expense of some of the dialogue, wouldn't go amiss.

Yeah, I'd definitely agree with you. More music please. I'll be booking to watch Rapunzel. It's a show where you can definitely let your hair down.

[TallPaul]

Nov 21, 2023 20:28:58 GMT david said:

I'll be booking to watch Rapunzel. It's a show where you can definitely let your hair down.

[Deleted]

I used to do Lichfield, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Cannock, Redditch, Malvern and maybe one other Midland one pre Lockdown. But last year I only did Redditch and Birmingham. Hopefully I can do Wolves and Lichfield too this year to get to four. But I don't really like crowded theatres so only do a couple in the end depending on what the availability is.

[jj9692]

Just home from seeing Snow White in Belfast.

Crossroads must have spent the money now to use the songs from the Disney movie, as all previous years where they or previously Qdos did Snow White, they were always ripoff versions of them.

Basically based on the version that was in the Palladium a few years back with Dawn French, where it was basically a winter wonderland setting, with the actual story squashed into the last 15 minutes.

But how 2023 of them to change the ending, because PLOT TWIST for it wasn't Snow White who ate the apple, oh no. It was the prince who ate the apple, and who was then awoken by Snow Whites kiss.

[theatreian]

Seeing Cinderella in Malvern next Thursday which is opening night!

[Deleted]

I saw Snow White at Wolves Grand last night. They had Avenue Q like puppets as the Dwarfs but called them the Peaky Miners - it gave the ensemble some nice parts working the puppets and providing the voices. Not sure why they didn't call them dwarves - the panto was just called Snow White. They had puppets as stereotypical Scottish and French so I don't think it was them being PC and not calling them dwarves.

Anyway it was a brand new set and costumes designed for the show and it was clear money had been spent on it. Regulars Ian Adams and Tam Ryan who wrote this year's script were back as Dame and comedy sidekick. The Theate's CEO and Artistic Director Adrian Jackson was conducting the orchestra too. Adrian and Ian had a good panto pedigree at Lichfield Garrick which Adrian previously ran before moving to the Grand so you know you'll always get a good show.

Kelle Bryan and Nikki Evans as the good vs evil leads seemed to be having a ball and sang well. Evie Pickerill and Gyasi Sheppy from CBeebies were slightly underused as the title character and prince respectively. But Evie was a charming Snow White and with Gyasi ( pronounced JC) gamely joined in during the "If I was not upon the stage routine".

But it was Ian and Tam who shone with their comedy moments. One of Ian's numbers brought back memories of the great Stanley Baxter and Ian who said "Not bad for 64" as an aside had the legs to match Stanley and provided great energy with numerous costume changes despite being near pension age. Tam has his slapstick routines down to a tee and never let the show's energy flag when he was on stage.

There were no juveniles performing, no shoutouts or children on stage but the ensemble was used well and given lots to do from skating, dancing, operating the puppets even getting lines to sing in the closing song medley. The 6 principals seemed to be really enjoying themselves too and so did the audience.

Possibly a ghost scene might have made it a superb panto but it was excellent/very good and at 2 hours 30 mins not too short or too long. The plot wasn't deep and there were set pieces but they and the local references worked well.

I'd highly recommend this show as ticket was a very reasonable £27.50 for row H side stalls isle but there was a £4 booking fee whether you booked online or in person. I booked in person as I don't have a smartphone. The Box Office happily takes cash or card still when most other local theatres are cards/smart pay only.

[Libby]

I'm going to see Sleeping Beauty Takes a Pr**k at the Charing Cross Theatre and thinking about seeing A Very Very Bad Cinderella at the Other Palace!

[stevej678]

Made my annual visit to City Varieties in Leeds this afternoon for their rock and roll panto. Robin Hood is surely their best yet! For the second year running, it's certainly in a different league to the Liverpool Everyman's rock and roll panto offering.

This is everything panto should be. Joyful chaos, zany characters, and innuendo and jokes by the bucketload. A complete riot from start to finish.

City Varieties regular Simon Nock has the audience in the palm of his hand from the second he appears on the stage as Nanny Nellie. He's at the helm of a brilliant cast of actor musicians who treat the audience to a score that's as eclectic as it is electric.

Highlights include Louise Beadel and Hannah Baker performing Lizzo's About Damn Time and Lucy Keirl and Samuel Pope's act one finale of Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run.

The running time of 2 hours 45 minutes absolutely flew by. The frenetic pace never lets up and there are so many laugh out loud moments.

An easy five stars from me. This is rock and roll panto at its very best.

[FrontrowverPaul]

Already seen Aladdin at Hackney Empire and have bookings for Aladdin at the Marlowe Canterbury, Peter Pan at the London Palladium and Sleeping Beauty at the Hawth Theatre in Crawley.

[Jon]

I notice Theatre Royal Newcastle has a new panto title in the form of Pinocchio, I'm guessing Michael Harrison is using it as a testbed to see if it can work so it can be sent out in the future, next year is The Little Mermaid which doesn't strike me as a panto title but could work.

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2023 15:00:18 GMT Jon said:

I notice Theatre Royal Newcastle has a new panto title in the form of Pinocchio, I'm guessing Michael Harrison is using it as a testbed to see if it can work so it can be sent out in the future, next year is The Little Mermaid which doesn't strike me as a panto title but could work.

Clive and Danny have done the Toon panto for about 20 years now so they have likely been through all the regular titles a couple of time so are looking for something new to keep their shows fresh.

Clive must be up there with the most panto appearances amongst active performers. Biggins must be well up the list too along with Paul Chuckle,Su Pollard and Nigel Ellacott. But I'd think the current leader might be Keith Simmons from Simmons and Simmons.

Anyone else got any thoughts?

[toomasj]

Dec 11, 2023 17:37:31 GMT @original9 said:

Dec 11, 2023 15:00:18 GMT Jon said:

I notice Theatre Royal Newcastle has a new panto title in the form of Pinocchio, I'm guessing Michael Harrison is using it as a testbed to see if it can work so it can be sent out in the future, next year is The Little Mermaid which doesn't strike me as a panto title but could work.

Clive and Danny have done the Toon panto for about 20 years now so they have likely been through all the regular titles a couple of time so are looking for something new to keep their shows fresh.

Clive must be up there with the most panto appearances amongst active performers. Biggins must be well up the list too along with Paul Chuckle,Su Pollard and Nigel Ellacott. But I'd think the current leader might be Keith Simmons from Simmons and Simmons.

Anyone else got any thoughts?

Most regional venues basically, particularly though where the producer/director also stars (usually as the Buttons) and the dame/leading lady are the same. Aldershot, for example, Rob has been doing it for over 20 years, and Donovan his dame for similar. Same cast every year, same jokes - but hugely popular.

Panto relies on familiarity and repetition - audiences come back specifically to see a replica of what they saw last year. If you find a dame for example that the audience connect with, it’s an easy decision to keep bringing them back.

But yeah, these mid-sized self-produced regional professional pantos are identikit, with just the names of local places changed in the gags. Same writer for most of them.