591 posts
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Post by lou105 on Jan 11, 2020 19:01:36 GMT
Just made my now annual trip to York and despite no Berwick (onstage at least) it was the most I've laughed at a panto, and possibly in a theatre in general, for a long time. There is such a magical chemistry between the cast and nobody, but nobody can beat David Leanord for comic villainary, his facial expressions alone are enough to bring the house down. Suzy Cooper though was the standout for me, going for the slapstick with aplomb and exuding an infections high energy throughout. I overheard some staff member saying there could be a cast shake up next year. Well I reckon there will be riots on the streets of York if there is! Yep it's started. First with Berwick Kaler saying in the local press that he wished he hadn't retired and felt the theatre had skimped on sets and made tickets too expensive.(He did write this year's show) Other cast members came out and said they feared being axed. Now there are stories that cast have been told they won't be back next year and there will be a new style panto. Various petitions starting up, though there are also voices saying change was needed. Still two weeks to go of this run..that will be tricky! |
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Post by talkingheads on Jan 11, 2020 20:28:05 GMT
Just made my now annual trip to York and despite no Berwick (onstage at least) it was the most I've laughed at a panto, and possibly in a theatre in general, for a long time. There is such a magical chemistry between the cast and nobody, but nobody can beat David Leanord for comic villainary, his facial expressions alone are enough to bring the house down. Suzy Cooper though was the standout for me, going for the slapstick with aplomb and exuding an infections high energy throughout. I overheard some staff member saying there could be a cast shake up next year. Well I reckon there will be riots on the streets of York if there is! Yep it's started. First with Berwick Kaler saying in the local press that he wished he hadn't retired and felt the theatre had skimped on sets and made tickets too expensive.(He did write this year's show) Other cast members came out and said they feared being axed. Now there are stories that cast have been told they won't be back next year and there will be a new style panto. Various petitions starting up, though there are also voices saying change was needed. Still two weeks to go of this run..that will be tricky! I of course appreciate that the theatre will have to change the show eventually but.... is this really the way to go about it? Given that most of their income is collected via this panto, to alienate the entire loyal audience in one fell swoop doesn't scream great business sense (though equally neither does the cast trash talking to the press) |
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Post by shady23 on Jan 12, 2020 16:35:06 GMT
Regardless if anybody is still interested, I watched my final panto of the season. Seen 12 in all! And what a show to end of. Snow White at Bradford and the comedy masterclass of Paul Chuckle and Billy Pearce. I was biased from the start as I have loved The Chuckle Brothers for twenty four years and I swear when the ChuckleVision theme started there was the loudest cheer I've ever heard in a theatre, it was electric! A lot of the routines I was familiar with, but part of the fun is marvelling at a master of their craft working the stage and the audience. Pearce I wasn't familiar with but I was soon won over by his winsome charm and ribald repartee. There is always a part of me that's sad watching Paul with another double act partner but Pearce was well up to the task, far better than the comic Paul was with in Woking last year So that's me done with panto for another year (Oh yes it is!). Phew! The legend herself Helen Mirren was in watching the Bradford panto yesterday too. She is filming locally I think. She posted it on her Instagram. She had a curry, went to a local pub and had her photo with Billy Pearce and Paul Chuckle, whilst wearing a tiara from the merch stand. What a woman! |
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 17, 2020 13:24:04 GMT
My first pantomime of the decade was Snow White at the Birmingham Hippodrome last night. This is the Palladium production from 2018-19 and, although it's been changed around a bit and some local references added, it's very clearly the same show, complete with the same scenes and largely the same jokes.
It's enjoyable. And very popular. It bills itself as the UK's biggest regional pantomime and runs all the way through to February.
The seats are cheaper now than they were before Christmas. I got an end seat in the Stalls a few rows back for £25, billed as restricted view but missing absolutely nothing. The only worry was it was right on the aisle for audience participation but I was spared.
Lots of apparent ad-libs, although I expect many are scripted. A funny rendition of 12 Days of Christmas, complete with props flying into the audience and Lesley Joseph losing her wig. A funny song for Muddles about all the stars who had graced the Birmingham Hippodrome (not the Palladium). Lots of jokes about Wolverhampton. Several references to Jac Yarrow and Joe McElderry being an item (no idea if that one is true or not). Disappointment that Birmingham couldn't get Diversity, only Flawless. And no end of jokes that weren't suitable for children (thankfully, there were very few of them in).
A lot of fun. I will probably go back next year to see how they transform Goldilocks.
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3,371 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 19, 2020 10:54:38 GMT
I noticed they used the same sight joke in both London and Birmingham this year. Near the start of the show, they have someone walk around the outside of the Stalls, along the front row, then out along the other outer aisle. Then there's a joke on stage about someone arriving late and then needing the toilet.
In London, it was Christopher Howell. Didn't recognise the person in Birmingham, but it was probably the standby. Has that joke been doing the rounds at all the other QDOS pantomimes?
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Post by bimse on Jan 19, 2020 12:41:04 GMT
Regardless if anybody is still interested, I watched my final panto of the season. Seen 12 in all! And what a show to end of. Snow White at Bradford and the comedy masterclass of Paul Chuckle and Billy Pearce. I was biased from the start as I have loved The Chuckle Brothers for twenty four years and I swear when the ChuckleVision theme started there was the loudest cheer I've ever heard in a theatre, it was electric! A lot of the routines I was familiar with, but part of the fun is marvelling at a master of their craft working the stage and the audience. Pearce I wasn't familiar with but I was soon won over by his winsome charm and ribald repartee. There is always a part of me that's sad watching Paul with another double act partner but Pearce was well up to the task, far better than the comic Paul was with in Woking last year So that's me done with panto for another year (Oh yes it is!). Phew! I wonder if Paul Chuckle will regularly partner Billy in Bradford? So many of the wonderful , traditional panto routines rely for success on performers bouncing off each other , and enjoying working alongside each other , and from your comments talkingheads it sounds like Paul and Billy did just that. So many of the performers in panto these days have no concept of the old routines . If I see the twelve days of Christmas one more time .... yes it can be fun if worked out and performed well , but it rarely is . Well done with your 12 panto season ! |
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Post by talkingheads on Jan 19, 2020 15:21:02 GMT
Regardless if anybody is still interested, I watched my final panto of the season. Seen 12 in all! And what a show to end of. Snow White at Bradford and the comedy masterclass of Paul Chuckle and Billy Pearce. I was biased from the start as I have loved The Chuckle Brothers for twenty four years and I swear when the ChuckleVision theme started there was the loudest cheer I've ever heard in a theatre, it was electric! A lot of the routines I was familiar with, but part of the fun is marvelling at a master of their craft working the stage and the audience. Pearce I wasn't familiar with but I was soon won over by his winsome charm and ribald repartee. There is always a part of me that's sad watching Paul with another double act partner but Pearce was well up to the task, far better than the comic Paul was with in Woking last year So that's me done with panto for another year (Oh yes it is!). Phew! I wonder if Paul Chuckle will regularly partner Billy in Bradford? So many of the wonderful , traditional panto routines rely for success on performers bouncing off each other , and enjoying working alongside each other , and from your comments talkingheads it sounds like Paul and Billy did just that. So many of the performers in panto these days have no concept of the old routines . If I see the twelve days of Christmas one more time .... yes it can be fun if worked out and performed well , but it rarely is . Well done with your 12 panto season ! Indeed, I was familiar with pretty much every routine they did but the timing was absolutely masterful and sonething every would be performer should see. And I hope he does pair with Billy again, the Alhambea is such a beautiful theatre and normally I like to be front stalls but I was right in the middle of the dress circle and it was one of the best views I've had in a theatre. My plan is to do Bradford, Newcastle for the first time and York in one trip next year (though maybe not York if the current cast have been canned) |
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Post by callum on Jan 19, 2020 19:24:31 GMT
I noticed they used the same sight joke in both London and Birmingham this year. Near the start of the show, they have someone walk around the outside of the Stalls, along the front row, then out along the other outer aisle. Then there's a joke on stage about someone arriving late and then needing the toilet. In London, it was Christopher Howell. Didn't recognise the person in Birmingham, but it was probably the standby. Has that joke been doing the rounds at all the other QDOS pantomimes? Happened at my performance of the Palladium as well! |
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Post by TallPaul on Jan 20, 2020 13:32:59 GMT
My plan is to do Bradford, Newcastle for the first time and York in one trip next year (though maybe not York if the current cast have been canned) Next year will be Damian Williams' 13th year at the Sheffield Lyceum, so he must be doing something right! Tickets now on sale. |
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Post by james1969 on Jan 20, 2020 15:55:23 GMT
Next year will be Damian Williams' 13th year at the Sheffield Lyceum, so he must be doing something right! Tickets now on sale. He’s a novice compared to May McFettridge (John Linehan) who celebrated his 30th year as dame at Belfast Grand Opera House this year. No accounting for taste - I cannot stand him ! 😂 |
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Post by David J on Jan 20, 2020 17:37:50 GMT
I noticed they used the same sight joke in both London and Birmingham this year. Near the start of the show, they have someone walk around the outside of the Stalls, along the front row, then out along the other outer aisle. Then there's a joke on stage about someone arriving late and then needing the toilet. In London, it was Christopher Howell. Didn't recognise the person in Birmingham, but it was probably the standby. Has that joke been doing the rounds at all the other QDOS pantomimes? Happened at my performance of the Palladium as well! The Palladium and Mayflower had the tongue twister routine and the whole narrow down the audience to pick on one guy in the front row bit. It’s as if there’s a big panto committee somewhere where everyone decides “this and this panto will do that routine, and this and this panto does that.” Filled in with routines that performers like the chuckle brothers do themselves You wonder why I think there’s a panto committee somewhere. Because one year I saw two pantos at Salisbury and Winchester. Neither QDOS pantos, just local companies with their own writers. And yet both of them coincidentally had the same laurel and hardy-esque routine, beat for beat All done so everyone except the minority of us who go far and wide to see multiple pantos will not notice that these routines are brought out at their local theatre again every couple of years But we still enjoy them all the same. And there are companies and writers who do think outside the box. I love the Salisbury Playhouse’s pantos for one, though I thought their Robin Hood last year was a bit lacklusture |
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Post by bimse on Jan 20, 2020 19:19:03 GMT
I like David J ‘s vision of a panto committee giving out the routines , sounds like a good committee to be on! Of course in the old days (and probably now, for the seasoned panto performers) the script would just say something like : scene 4, A Corridor in Hardup Hall. Buttons : Business. And the performer playing Buttons would perform one of his own routines at this point. Most panto performers these days wouldn’t have their own “routines” ready to perform , hence they’d no doubt need direction . |
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Post by talkingheads on Feb 11, 2020 10:53:30 GMT
It's started! Just got my tickets to see Berwick and co at York Grand Opera House. Much better value than it was at the Theatre Royal. £14.50 tickets for opening night and £29 for closing night with the ATG Card.
Also Biggins is once again Dame, this year at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 12, 2020 11:15:07 GMT
Jason Donovan announced as making his panto debut in Birmingham for Goldilocks for Christmas 2020. He'll play the Evil Ringmaster. Also advertised as using the set, scenery and special effects from the Palladium production.
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Post by dontdreamit on Feb 12, 2020 17:49:35 GMT
Jason Donovan announced as making his panto debut in Birmingham for Goldilocks for Christmas 2020. He'll play the Evil Ringmaster. Also advertised as using the set, scenery and special effects from the Palladium production. We’ve just booked for this, although it’s sold extremely well and we’ve struggled to find seats and dates that work easily for us all. I was tempted to start a JD thread as he pops up in shows now and then, but I rather thought I might be talking to myself! |
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Post by chestwig on Feb 12, 2020 20:44:49 GMT
Decent seats awful for this. Once will just have to do. Not travelling all that way to sit in the car park...
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Post by talkingheads on Feb 24, 2020 13:09:11 GMT
The Mayflower have just announced that Richard Cadell and Sooty are in Cinderella alongside Debbie McGee and Craig Revel Horwood. I wasn't planning on going but I love Sooty!
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Post by stevej678 on Feb 24, 2020 14:42:54 GMT
This year's rock & roll panto at the Liverpool Everyman will be Robin Hood. Tickets went on sale this morning.
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Post by cartoonman on Feb 24, 2020 18:29:26 GMT
I hope to go to the panto at Woodford Green. I missed the last one but the year before was Treasure Island and it was just so good. My young grand nephew was playing sullen boy but was soon singing and booing. I remember Roy Judd asking my then girlfriend of she liked a squeeze them throwing a lemon to her. I did laugh!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2020 11:54:26 GMT
The Mayflower have just announced that Richard Cadell and Sooty are in Cinderella alongside Debbie McGee and Craig Revel Horwood. I wasn't planning on going but I love Sooty! Craig is playing the Wicked Stepmother, I wonder if they will have a pair of Ugly Sisters too as 3 Evil Characters is a bit much and interaction with Cinderella would be crowded unless the Ugly Sisters play more for comedy. Danny La Rue used to be the Stepmother alongside Ellacott and Robins but he didn't really play a nasty character and had his interactions with Buttons and the Baron. The costumes between Danny and the Sisters were fabulous.
I always thought that Craig would be great as an Ugly Sister with the right person to bounce off. Unfortunately Bruno wouldn't be available but that would be dream casting.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2020 18:27:58 GMT
oh please dont inflict Bruno on us. In london they had women play the sisters with Paul O Grady as the step mother so it's possible they may do something like that. I'm not sure they will have sisters in the traditional dame sense.
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Post by talkingheads on Feb 28, 2020 8:37:49 GMT
Susie McKenna has stepped back from directing the Hackney Empire panto after twenty one years to concentrate in her role at the Kiln.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2020 12:22:06 GMT
oh please dont inflict Bruno on us. In london they had women play the sisters with Paul O Grady as the step mother so it's possible they may do something like that. I'm not sure they will have sisters in the traditional dame sense. Bruno with his US Dancing With the Stars commitments wouldn't do it. Ugly Sisters and the Panto Dames are actually different type roles, performers tend to specialize in one or the other. Only in recent years have we seen the likes of Paul O'Grady and Craig really having a man play the Evil Queen/Stepmother type role.
I'm still not sure about women as the Evil/Ugly Sisters - some venues bill them as the Evil Stepsisters if they are played by women to be PC. Also we've moved away from the thigh slapping women as principal boys - never really knew why, it wasn't degrading or sexist. The performer may show a bit of leg but that was all.
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Post by talkingheads on Mar 5, 2020 16:36:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2020 22:18:36 GMT
oh please dont inflict Bruno on us. In london they had women play the sisters with Paul O Grady as the step mother so it's possible they may do something like that. I'm not sure they will have sisters in the traditional dame sense. Bruno with his US Dancing With the Stars commitments wouldn't do it. Ugly Sisters and the Panto Dames are actually different type roles, performers tend to specialize in one or the other. Only in recent years have we seen the likes of Paul O'Grady and Craig really having a man play the Evil Queen/Stepmother type role.
I'm still not sure about women as the Evil/Ugly Sisters - some venues bill them as the Evil Stepsisters if they are played by women to be PC. Also we've moved away from the thigh slapping women as principal boys - never really knew why, it wasn't degrading or sexist. The performer may show a bit of leg but that was all.
I think it was partly to give boys in the audience someone to route for and they could relate to. which I can see the logic for. to be honest even in the 80s and 90s as a child I found the principle boy thing a bit strange. |
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