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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2019 19:48:34 GMT
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Post by talkingheads on Sept 26, 2019 12:10:55 GMT
Well, turns out New Wimbledon Theatre have been holding out so long for their exclusive announcement that they've secured.... Samantha Womack and Lesley Garrett, with Pete Firman back from last year and also Melody Thornton. Not sure I'll bother going this year, especially for the money they charge.
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Post by talkingheads on Sept 26, 2019 12:32:03 GMT
Luckily I always book early on the ATG membership offer, so it's only £15 for best seats. My teenage self seems to remember Ms Womack filled a nice pair of leather trousers as Sandy. Lesley Garrett I can live with. Peter Firman I can always nip to the loo when he's on. Melody Thornton I've had to google and still don't have a clue - but she looks like she will make a pretty Cinderella so that seems OK. Still, a good script and you never know. Actually the only reason I would consider seeing this is for Firman, I think he's a brilliant showman, but couldn't care less about the rest (obviously I appreciate Lesley Garrett has a lovely voice but that's not enough to tempt me to book). I was dithering waiting for this or booking Croydon to see Tim Vine, also in Cinderella (and will likely be a much funnier production!) |
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Post by nick on Sept 26, 2019 15:33:07 GMT
We don’t do New Year parties so I’ve booked to see the Greenwich Theatre pants on New Years Eve.
It’s always worth the money. No starts but a great script and dame.
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Post by nick on Sept 26, 2019 15:33:30 GMT
We don’t do New Year parties so I’ve booked to see the Greenwich Theatre pants on New Years Eve. It’s always worth the money. No starts but a great script and dame. I hope it’s not pants!!! |
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Post by xanady on Oct 1, 2019 17:52:25 GMT
We are booked front row for Brum and the Grand,Wolves...Matt Slacks’s annual masterclass in panto buffoonery...unsurpassed imo...
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Post by talkingheads on Oct 7, 2019 18:48:46 GMT
Just out of interest, what's the most anyone's ever paid for panto tickets? I ask because I was looking at going to Mother Goose in Canterbury as it's one of those pantos I've always wanted to see and haven't yet, but it would cost just over £90 for two of us. I'd expect to pay that (grudgingly!) in London, but since when did provincial panto become quite so expensive? I know theatres make most of their money etc, but unless the biggest star in the world is in it I think anything above £40 each is excessive.
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722 posts
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Post by hulmeman on Oct 7, 2019 19:30:07 GMT
Just out of interest, what's the most anyone's ever paid for panto tickets? I ask because I was looking at going to Mother Goose in Canterbury as it's one of those pantos I've always wanted to see and haven't yet, but it would cost just over £90 for two of us. I'd expect to pay that (grudgingly!) in London, but since when did provincial panto become quite so expensive? I know theatres make most of their money etc, but unless the biggest star in the world is in it I think anything above £40 each is excessive. You won't even get one decent ticket at the Palladium for your £90!!!!! |
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Post by talkingheads on Oct 7, 2019 19:54:03 GMT
Just out of interest, what's the most anyone's ever paid for panto tickets? I ask because I was looking at going to Mother Goose in Canterbury as it's one of those pantos I've always wanted to see and haven't yet, but it would cost just over £90 for two of us. I'd expect to pay that (grudgingly!) in London, but since when did provincial panto become quite so expensive? I know theatres make most of their money etc, but unless the biggest star in the world is in it I think anything above £40 each is excessive. You won't even get one decent ticket at the Palladium for your £90!!!!! That's very true, but I do appreciate that London will always be at the top end, with the Palladium the absolute apex. I was just surprised at the cost in Canterbury. my local in Bournemouth for example is £24 |
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Post by talkingheads on Oct 9, 2019 12:27:49 GMT
Considering going to Bromley as it may well be Biggins' final panto (although he did say the same last year!)
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2019 13:21:49 GMT
Considering going to Bromley as it may well be Biggins' final panto (although he did say the same last year!) Christopher turned 70 late last year and said he was going to stop doing pantos at this age as he'll still be 70 when this year's show opens he could be covered either way. I can remember reading that he said he'd signed up for 3 more pantos which would take him up to 70 but I don't know if it was 3 or 4 years ago or if he missed a year recently too. If it is going to be his final year then I'd hope he gets a fitting send off as he has been one of the great dames of his generation. Apparently he was first offered the dame role when he was doing Porridge he was reluctant to do it as he thought it would stop him being seen as a serious actor but the money was good and possibly Ronnie Barker said to him if you do it and are good at it you've got a role for life and you can say you've earned X amount for the role when you go for other roles in the future. |
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Post by talkingheads on Oct 9, 2019 18:48:24 GMT
Considering going to Bromley as it may well be Biggins' final panto (although he did say the same last year!) Christopher turned 70 late last year and said he was going to stop doing pantos at this age as he'll still be 70 when this year's show opens he could be covered either way. I can remember reading that he said he'd signed up for 3 more pantos which would take him up to 70 but I don't know if it was 3 or 4 years ago or if he missed a year recently too. If it is going to be his final year then I'd hope he gets a fitting send off as he has been one of the great dames of his generation. Apparently he was first offered the dame role when he was doing Porridge he was reluctant to do it as he thought it would stop him being seen as a serious actor but the money was good and possibly Ronnie Barker said to him if you do it and are good at it you've got a role for life and you can say you've earned X amount for the role when you go for other roles in the future. Is he the longest serving Dame now Berwick's retired? |
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Post by talkingheads on Oct 10, 2019 23:04:11 GMT
Also what are people's opinions on adult panto? (the irony of course being that there's nothing inherently adult about how childish it all is!). A relative is insisting on dragging us to a touring production of one and I have no idea if it'll be buttock-clenchingly cringworthy or actually a fun, raucous, ribald night out. My only experience of it is watching a Jim Davidson one on video and loathing it but that could be biased as the words I'd use to describe Jim Davidson certainly can't be printed here!
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Post by talkingheads on Oct 11, 2019 16:51:17 GMT
I've only seen Jim Davidson - and adult panto - live once, "Sinderella" at the Cambridge Theatre. Also seen "Boobs In The Wood" on video. Video kills panto dead, but I have to say that live it depends a lot on the audience. I remember Charlie Drake having to deal with a drunken idiot who kept heckling (this was a 5pm matinee and the idiot was totally blotto). If I'm honest, the Palladium pantos now are filthier than anything in that full length script, flash of nudity and maybe the odd line aside. Adult panto for me is fine if done with the same attention to detail as mainstream, "Sinderella" wasn't bad, really, but the other one proves the point, I'd say. After your comment I went and watched a bit of Sinderella on YouTube. It actually made me laugh, mainly down to a progressively drunk Charlie Drake and the the ridiculously ribald ugly sisters, and is more fun than I'd remembered. |
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Post by talkingheads on Oct 11, 2019 18:01:00 GMT
Forgot they released it on video. Not sure I want to remember, but I seem to recall it wasn't bad either. Ha, fair! Going back to normal panto, is Biggins now the longest serving Dame? I know retirement's been on the cards for a few years now and if this is to be the year I can't miss it! |
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Post by WireHangers on Oct 22, 2019 14:03:48 GMT
Anyone here write pantomimes?
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5,169 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Oct 22, 2019 16:25:41 GMT
Anyone here write pantomimes? , I think. |
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Post by xanady on Oct 22, 2019 16:34:35 GMT
Yes,been writing them for 30 years.Can I help in any way?
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552 posts
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Post by WireHangers on Oct 23, 2019 1:03:33 GMT
Anyone here write pantomimes? More like "Anyone on here NOT writing pantomime?" Ahaaaaaaaa! |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2019 12:43:10 GMT
Forgot they released it on video. Not sure I want to remember, but I seem to recall it wasn't bad either. Ha, fair! Going back to normal panto, is Biggins now the longest serving Dame? I know retirement's been on the cards for a few years now and if this is to be the year I can't miss it! I wouldn't know off the top of my head but I'd think that Biggins has probably made the most Dame appearances as anyone currently in Panto. Jeffrey Holland is a couple of years older than Chris and may well have done as many pantos as him but may have not played the Dame as much. He is playing Alderman in Dick Whittington this year for example. Allan Stewart up in Scotland turns 70 next year so could have notched up a lot of Dame appearances. I'll ask the question on It's Behind You Website which Nigel Ellacott runs, someone on there will know the answer. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2019 10:23:42 GMT
I have been told Biggins has played a Dame 32 times so even with him having the odd year off, he must have done Buttons or other roles a fair few times?
I was thinking who on the panto circuit must have done the most years in Panto?
Any thoughts - Keith Simmmons, Biggins, Jeffrey Holland, Paul Chuckle, Robin Colville are names that immediately spring to mind.
A dark horse could be Dawson Chance who has been around since early 1970's and must have a load of pantos to his name?
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Post by talkingheads on Oct 24, 2019 16:03:00 GMT
I have been told Biggins has played a Dame 32 times so even with him having the odd year off, he must have done Buttons or other roles a fair few times? I was thinking who on the panto circuit must have done the most years in Panto? Any thoughts - Keith Simmmons, Biggins, Jeffrey Holland, Paul Chuckle, Robin Colville are names that immediately spring to mind. A dark horse could be Dawson Chance who has been around since early 1970's and must have a load of pantos to his name? I think Paul Chuckle's older siblings The Patton Brothers might still have done the most, though one has now passed and the other is retired. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2019 22:21:24 GMT
The Patton Brothers were well ahead of anyone else a few years back. When I spoke to Keith Simmons once he was on his 40th something panto then and said the Pattons were about 10 ahead of him.
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Post by talkingheads on Nov 1, 2019 18:42:27 GMT
If anybody hasn't had the pleasure, I highly recommend giving The Panto Podcast a listen. 46 episodes deep so far, with guests as diverse as The Patton Brothers, Paul Chuckle, Berwick Kaler (two hours long that one, absolutely cracking listen), the great Clive Rowe, Matthew Kelly and many more. So much fascinating history and insight into the craft. pantopodcast.podbean.com/ |
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Post by cartoonman on Nov 3, 2019 17:39:06 GMT
I hope to go to Rapunsal at Woodford Green. Treasure Island, last year, was really good fun. Please excuse spelling.
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