Milton Keynes Milton Keynes Theatre Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs What's it like?  | | Happy Panto Rating |
This is a pantomime that quite literally sparkles from the moment you walk into the auditorium. There is more glitter than you can shake a stick at, and the whole thing looks fabulous. It's also for the most part, fresh and funny with an exhilarating ending and all worth the price of the ticket alone to hear Richard O'Brien singing the Time Warp.  | | Suzanne Shaw with the dwarfs |
The top cast also includes Suzanne Shaw as a charmingly winsome Snow White, Toyah as a very glamorous Wicked Queen (better known as Diamond White!) and international film superstar Warwick Davies as Prof, the head of the hilarious dwarf troupe with Three Counties Radio's Big George as Stumpy - the inappropriately sized seventh dwarf! Special mentions must also go to Mark Hilton as a funny and amiable Muddles and Duncan Breeze, whose engaging nature and gleaming smile made him the perfect Prince Charming. My main quibble though is that for the second year running, there has been no dame at the Milton Keynes Theatre. You can stick the idea of the principle boy, but there is nothing like a dame! Nevertheless, I found the look and feel of this show magical and the faces of the kids in the audience said it all! Topicality  | | Richard O'Brien pulls his knees in tight |
A constant stream of references to all things MK which the audience loved. My particular faves were a reference to Snow White being as "dead as Newport Pagnell on a Friday night", and Muddles explaining that his journey had taken him through the Land Of Zombies - otherwise known as the Open University Campus - and over many strange obstacles, such as the B & Q roundabout at Bletchley! Audience interaction Lots of opportunities to shout out and the night I was there the audience were very inventive. When the Wicked Queen flew into the dwarfs cottage to get Snow White - someone shouted "Above you"! What about the Dame? Well - as I've already said - Toyah was a feisty Wicked Queen, and packed a punch in the vocals department but she was rather too glamorous and I actually found her rather likeable! But in my opinion pantos need a dame - and no amount of fabulously sparkly costumes can make up for it! Best joke  | | Toyah as a glamorous Wicked Queen |
Two hats walking along a road. One says to the other - "I'll stay here - you go on ahead!" (On a HEAD! - Geddit!) Highlights 1.) Richard O'Brien's fabulous voice filling the huge theatre with the Time Warp and everybody on their feet joining in. A true moment to remember. 2.) The dwarfs were hilarious and worked really well as a team with some great slapstick comedy and one-liners. But the real highlight has to be the Ministry of Mayhem's Rammit Ray who rams against a door to shake the diamonds from the rocks. It was absolutely priceless - there were tears rolling down my cheeks! 3.) The finale - a combination of "Is this the Way to Amarillo?" and a reprise of the "Time Warp" - was fabulous. It got everybody up and singing and sent them off into the night upbeat and happy. Most annoying tat sold in foyer Those spinning fans must have been bought in a job lot! Chesham Elgiva Theatre Aladdin What's it like? | | Happy Panto Rating |
The Elgiva's production of Aladdin is just how pantomime should be. There are no big celebrity names but that doesn't matter a bit as these talented performers put on a good traditional show with a dame (yes a dame!) loads of opportunities for kids
to scream their heads off and an adult level that goes way over the heads of the youngsters but provides a lot of entertainment for the adults! Despite this being about the fourth time I had heard "Is this the way to Amarillo" in panto this year, and resisting the urge to shout out "for God's sake, yes it IS!", using it at the start of the show made for a great upbeat opening that set the scene for the rest. After that, it was a great romp through a familiar story by a cast who were clearly loving it! Director Stuart Morrison's Wishee Washee got everybody going, really drew the children into the story and kept the pace up throughout the show. He was ably backed up by a talented and enthusiastic cast including traditional principal boy Lisa Cassidy who was thigh-slappingly great, fabulously experienced dame James Horne and the always delightful Bobbie Chatt as Princess Baldroubadour and the crazy Simon Goodall and Richard Graylin as the Chinese Policeman Ping and Pong - but more of this below! This is a real family panto that will appeal to both children and adults alike - just like they should! Topicality The show managed many references to the Bucks Advertiser and Waitrose in Berkhamstead to give it a local feel but also got in references of national interest such as the X-Factor and Doctor Who! Audience interaction The Chinese Policemen in particular took every opportunity to run out into the audience much to the delight of the children, many of whom were beside themselves with excitement! What about the Dame?  | | Aladdin at the Elgiva Theatre, Chesham |
James Horne was a fabulous dame whose experience in this popular pantomime role was clearly evident. With ever more outrageous costumes his timing and rapport with the audience was spot on. Best joke Something to do with the Chinese Policemen, a tree and Special Branch! Highlights: I'm not sure why there was a huge moving Tyrannosaurus Rex in the Jewelled Cave scene but it was very cool. It's just a shame it was only on for a short time, and I'm sure that the stage crew must have thought so too - all that effort for a couple of minutes with a massive dinosaur blocking the side of the stage! Bobbie Chatt as Princess Baldroubadour was not only charming, her fabulous voice filled the theatre, as it always does, and brought a tear to the eye! A well-choreographed cooking scene was simple but highly effective. Most annoying tat sold in foyer I didn't see a single spinning fan in the audience. Hallelujah! | 
