Radlett The Radlett Centre - Sleeping Beauty What's it like?!  | | Four and a half |
The Radlett Centre have once again proved that you don't need a so-called celebrity to star in a fun packed family pantomime. With a cast of talented actors and supported by lots of smiling children Sleeping Beauty proved that old fashioned panto is wide awake in Radlett. The cosy environment of the Radlett Centre allowed children and adults alike to feel involved in the performance and get the absolute best out of what was on offer. And what a slick show it was, a good length for families, long enough to tell the story properly but not too long as to lose the younger audience members attention. Topicality Good, plenty of modern references to current TV trends, including a nice gag about Strictly Come Dancing, where the Dame wished to be Zoe Ball. Audience interaction There was plenty of opportunity for the audience to enter into the traditional elements of panto from "it's behind you" to "oh no it isn't" to ghosts stealing cast members in the woods to corny jokes. There was even a "oom pah oom par, stick it up your jumper!" What about the Dame? Fantastic at every level, the Dame had a wonderful range of costumes and provided just about the right amount of innuendo. With a lovely nothern accent this Dame really did steal the show at times! Best joke/sketch The 12 days of Christmas routine performed by five cast members using a variety of funny props went down really well with the audience. Especially with the Dame randomly kicking the other performers props off stage and forcing them to rush into the crowd to retrieve them in time. Highlights  | | Jessica Harrow. |
The singing throughout was good, with the male characters a bit weaker than the women. The Good and Bad fairies however, had the most amazing voices and were given the opportunity to show off their best in a 'sing off' to "Anything you can do I can do better". The female lead was a good all-rounder and though the children weren't so keen on the soppy numbers, she managed to save them from being too saccharine. Lester the Jester kept things fun for the kids with a wide variety of what can only be described as 'Dad' jokes, though the kids loved them, even if the adults were left to groan a bit. The children/young performers in the cast were the real highlight and seemed to really enjoy themselves, they sang and danced well and smiled throughout the whole performance. Special mention must also go to Jessica Harrow, one of the teen performers writing us a diary of her performances (see right hand link), she was a wonderful dancer and shone like the star she really is and will no doubt one day become on a far bigger stage. The sets and costumes were of a very high standard and provided just the right amount of colour and style that the production deserved. Execution of panto conventions This pantomime really did follow all the rules that a traditional Christmas panto should and the audience seemed to lap this up at every opportunity. The only minor niggle was 'Road to Amarillo' singalong which I was hoping this panto wouldn't be forced to perform like all the others in the area so far. Most annoying tat sold in foyer The twizzle sticks seemed to be an accident waiting to happen, as my mother would have warned me as a child 'if you keep waving that you'll have someone's eye out'. Stevenage Gordon Craig Theatre: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs What's it like?!  | | Happy Panto Rating |
The Gordon Craig Theatre have once again proved that it's worth travelling to Stevenage if you want to see a top notch panto! For a start, they've got the best dame in the business in the shape of Paul Laidlaw, who has also directed a highly polished, slick, colourful and very funny show. With a delighful Snow White (Sarah Shepherd), handsome Prince (Shane Lynch, ex-Boyzone), the hilarious comedy pairing of Ben Roddy as the Henchman and Steve Walls as Muddles and a wonderful troupe of seven dwarfs, this is an excellent, traditional pantomime with loads to appeal to all ages. Topicality Pretty good with some jibes at the Council and Biggleswade but my particular favourite was the following exchange. Snow White: I have no idea why my stepmother hates me so much!
Muddles: You're not a Chelsea fan are you?! Audience interaction Loads of opportunities for the audience to scream at the tops of their voices - and they did! What about the Dame? Paul Laidlaw as the Wicked Queen almost WAS the fairest in the land! Impossibly glamorous and legs to die for - I think he needed a few warts! Best joke  | | Paul Laidlaw - fabulous! |
Muddles says - I went to the doctor, because I keep seeing things. One minute it's Mickey Mouse, the next it's Donald Duck. And the doctor said - "how long have you been having these Disney spells"! Highlights 1.) The hilarious duo of Ben Roddy as Herman the Henchman and Steve Walls as Muddles. Ben eeked every ounce of comedy from the role with superbly timed delivery and well placed facial expressions and enjoyed some great knockabout comedy with Steve, another real audience pleaser. 2.) Shane Lynch knocking out a lovely version of James Blunts' "Beautiful". 3.) Paul Laidlaw superb as The Wicked Queen. Execution of panto conventions All expertly carried out to the delight of the audience. Very good ghost scene with some lovely tongue in cheek - "Don't worry - There can't be any ghosts around, there's not a bench in the scene!" Cue the Henchman arriving with a bench under his arm! Most annoying tat sold in foyer Flipping spinning light-up fans - there was one next to me for the WHOLE performance. Parents - step away from the tat stand! Watford Watford Palace Theatre: Cinderella What's it like? | | Happy Panto Rating |
This is a wonderful pantomime which throws in up-to-date and highly original touches without ever losing the magic of the traditional. And it also goes to show that you don't need soap stars and reality TV "personalities" to get people into the theatre or indeed, give them a fantastic evening to remember. Daniel Crowder is an absolutely delightful Buttons, onstage nearly all the time and holding it all together. Allyson Brown is a really charming Cinderella with a voice that will knock your socks off and Ugly Sisters Adorabella and Fruitella (Kieran Buckeridge and Dale Superville) are hilarious and make the show their own! I also loved Gina Murray as the Fairy Godmother from Godmothers R Us with her large mobile phone, dodgy telephone answering service and relaxed manner - fab voice too! This is a magical and colourful journey into pantoland that will make your festive season extra special! Topicality Just the right amount. Local audiences will appreciate the difficulty of Cinderella trying to get transport to the ball in Watford on a Saturday night and enjoy the inference that people in Bushy have outside loos! But I particularly enjoyed the whole opening where the royalty were on a fox hunt - but of course, in this day and age it had to be pretend! Audience interaction A really ambitious but very effective audience sing song of McFly's "It's All About You" with melody and counter melody shows how Watford take the traditions and step them up a gear! And loads of opportunities to scream and shout at the characters! What about the Dames?  | | "Hilarious" Kieran Buckeridge and Dale Superville |
Kieran Buckeridge as Adorabella and Dale Superville as Fruitella were an excellent duo of Ugly Sisters who bounced off each other brilliantly as they came on for each scene with ever more outrageous costumes! Getting each other out of trouble with their lines in the boudoir scene was especially entertaining for the audience. Best joke There were lots of snappy one liners rather than actual "let me tell you another one" jokes. e.g. "The King needs heirs" - "He's got heirs - it's just the way he combs them!" Highlights 1. The Ugly Sisters of course and Daniel Crowder as Buttons. Incredibly genial he builds up a real rapport with the audience especially after telling them - "You can shout - it's not Ibsen!"  | | Allyson Brown and Oliver Tompsett in Cinderella |
2. It sounds strange but even the mistakes were great! Some of the lines got a bit messed up and a wig appeared rather lopsided but a confident cast got themselves out of it while entertaining the audience as well. 3. Just the look of the whole thing - fabulous costumes, vibrant and imaginative sets and amusing props make this a wonderful fantasy journey for the whole family. Most annoying tat sold in foyer At least the flipping spinning light-up fans are quieter than the ones at Stevenage! Read more reviews of pantos in Beds, Herts and Bucks including Chesham and Milton Keynes.
Pantometer - 2005! > | 
