661 posts
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Post by Oleanna on Jan 3, 2024 4:34:53 GMT
Anyone know of any deals for this as it nears the end of the run?
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Post by talkingheads on Jan 3, 2024 14:09:45 GMT
Honestly, the Palladium Panto is boring to me now. The novelty has worn off and I don't care if it's the most expensive panto on the planet, I'm sick of the same cast and the same tired jokes. I'll be interested when they revamp the cast. Having said that, Julian can stay, he is always funny.
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Post by willjam39 on Jan 3, 2024 14:13:12 GMT
Well we made our family trip to the show for yesterdays matinee and it certainly matched my original comment. Rob Madge is certainly a highlight (even if the jealousy plot was a bit hammered home but thats the script not him). His performance of the Spamalot number is one of the actual moments that has stayed in the brain. I was surprised as felt Julian was a bit stale and almost looked nervous about looking down at end of act 1, the Mother in law loved him though.
I would love to see this group of performers with an actual panto script as you can still work an audience with improv jokes etc in those situations.
As a juxtaposition we went to Peter pan goes wrong yesterday evening which was just as funny for a lot less and included a brilliant bit with Hook improving with the audience about how bad we were as a panto audience ("even if this isnt a panto")
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Jan 3, 2024 17:59:27 GMT
I've been to every Palladium pantomime since their reintroduction, most years twice. I get exactly what I want and what I expect every year, which is how I for one (+ family) like it.
I can't see any major changes being made while the current cast is willing to continue and the audience holds up. I suspect this year's panto has been the most successful financially ever, certainly there are far fewer seats left for the last couple of weeks than in any previous year and AFAIK that's without the lottery giveaways.
I've seen 7 different pantomimes this year with two more to go and the only disappointment was the one with no dame, less general silliness and bad jokes, a magician doing card tricks, a fairly coherent storyline and more proper songs. There wasn't the usual fun atmosphere and certainly near me restless kids. It was also one of only three professional pantomimes that I'm aware used seat filling this season for several performances. And it's the one I won't book for 2024 until I see the reviews.
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3,316 posts
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Post by david on Jan 3, 2024 23:33:01 GMT
I was at today’s matinee and did the pre show theatre tour. The tour itself lasted around 30 minutes and you got a bit of background into the history of the Palladium and pantomime in general. We had a look around some of the front of house and VIP areas with some of the old Palladium programmes on display hung up on the walls in those sections. There was also 2 costumes worn by Julian Clary on display as well. Due to the panto we couldn’t get access to any of the other areas backstage (or onstage experience) that you would normally get access to on other theatre tours in other venues. Our tour guide was good fun and made the experience enjoyable. We did get a panto programme at the end as part of the ticket price.
As for the panto itself, I got one of the single seat offers for £45 in the stalls (L21). I certainly got value for my money in terms of staging and the light show and SFX it provides In terms of enjoyment, the cast were a mixed bag. Julian, Louis, Gary and Rob were a great watch (Rob’s Act 2 Spamalot based song a highlight for me). Julian as always steals the show with both the delivery of the jokes and those brilliant costumes he gets to wear and this was no different this afternoon. However I thought that Jennifer, Nigel and Paul didn’t work for me sadly.
I last watched the Donny Osmond panto and for me that a much better atmosphere than the one I watched today. Though I think the Donny O factor played a big part in my enjoyment in that viewing. For me unless there is another big name I want to see on stage, I wouldn’t rush back to book for next year.
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315 posts
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Post by westended on Jan 4, 2024 21:52:48 GMT
Paid a visit to the Palladium last night to see Peter Pan. To sum it up: it needs a refresh. Obviously it wasn't bad as it's the Palladium (it just can't be bad), but it could be so much better when compared to the previous pantomimes Crossroads has produced at the venue. I'll break down my thoughts a little further below.
I'm not sure if this is just me, but I felt like there may have been some budget cuts this year? The set felt like it was a little lacking this year, with some scenes looking great, and some others not so great visually (the Mermaid's Lagoon was an example of this for me). Additionally I don't really feel the effects were anything to rave about like they have been in previous years. The various crocodiles that feature are all relatively old stock of The Twins FX and the end of Act One sequence was ok, but nothing new. The "revolutionary" new flying effect the Twins described didn't really hit the mark. Being sat in Row G of the Royal Circle, you could easily see how it's executed. Another point is that it's Peter Pan...and there was hardly any flying at all really, apart from the small sequence towards the beginning. Costumes were great all round however.
Musically speaking, some of the medley/mashups were a bit strange. Again, perhaps budget cuts? Many songs featured were from past catalogues of Crossroads' other regional Peter Pan productions and some quirky choices of arrangements of pop songs (beginning of Act 2 for example), didn't really feel like they fit in with the show and were just pulled from a catalogue and plonked into the show to fill out time. Rob Madge's medley was a nice message, but it again didn't really feel like those songs fit together as well as other options could have. Their Act 2 number was a highlight for me though.
Zerdin didn't look like he wanted to be there. His scenes were almost predictable line after line, with the same jokes used year on year on year. The Neverlanders featured so little...what was the point in them being there? Gary Wilmot didn't have as much to do as previous years, neither did Nigel Havers. His plot line of being old is getting far too old now....
Highlight for me were of course the ensemble who always work so hard, as well as Louis and Frances who both have great voices!
By far the best thing about the show is of course Julian Clary. Without him, I doubt the Panto's Residency would have lasted as long as it has. New material is always a breath of fresh air, and his number about Paul was touching. He is certainly the star of the show and is miles above the rest of the cast!
All in all, the show needs a big mix up. Hopefully the 2024-25 show will live up to the expectation that so many of us have, which sadly the show may have missed this year.
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Post by toomasj on Jan 4, 2024 22:10:37 GMT
Out of interest, what is the Spamalot number people have mentioned please?
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5,183 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Jan 4, 2024 22:29:04 GMT
Out of interest, what is the Spamalot number people have mentioned please? Rob does a version of Divas Lament I think |
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1,743 posts
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Post by fiyero on Jan 5, 2024 9:54:56 GMT
Out of interest, what is the Spamalot number people have mentioned please? Rob does a version of Divas Lament I think Mixed up to be "whatever happened to the plot?" which is a common theme at Palladium Panto! |
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1,743 posts
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Post by fiyero on Jan 7, 2024 8:08:37 GMT
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Post by greenandbrownandblue on Jan 7, 2024 18:56:18 GMT
Saw this yesterday - sat in C3, definitely restricted in terms of set at the rear of the stage, but don't think I really missed any of the main action. I enjoyed it, but less so than last year - it felt a bit too samey, with not enough new material. That said, I do find the Nigel gags funny - and he looks as if he's having a genuinely fun time up there. Thought the comic song in Act 2 involving the different sea objects was great.
Jennifer Saunders was a bit lacklustre, and Zerdin did pretty much the same gags as before, especially with the (planted?) kids. Also the end of act 1 isn't the big effect I'd hoped for - it's Peter Pan for goodness sake, they could've done so much more flying wise. Rob Madge was very good, as per usual. Really enjoyed the I Am What I Am and Born This Way mash-up. First time seeing Frances Mayli McCann on stage, was very impressed, will look out for what she does next. Also loved the Timbuktu Tumblers - very underused, but fabulous routine in Act 2.
Not sure if I'll return next year - depends on who they cast.
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5,183 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Jan 9, 2024 15:50:15 GMT
Am standing tonight - any tips on where to pick in the auditorium in terms of side?
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887 posts
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 10, 2024 21:18:50 GMT
Was there this afternoon. I have seen all the Palladium pantos since 2016 and can categorically state (in my humble opinion) that this is the worst of the lot. I actually came out thinking 'what a load of rubbish'. It started well, Julian and Rob were the standout stars, but by the second half it was as if everyone had given up. Plot? What plot?
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81 posts
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Post by jj9692 on Jan 11, 2024 8:02:14 GMT
2 tickets available in Noticeboard for this evening if anyone is interested. Really don't want to see them go to waste.
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1,482 posts
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Post by mkb on Feb 9, 2024 18:32:35 GMT
I saw this year's Palladium panto on the evening of Saturday 13 January, desperately in need of a tonic after falling victim to the scam that is the theatre's official "tour". (See here: theatreboard.co.uk/thread/11573/london-palladium-theatre-tour-avoid ) It was the usual good fun, and you can see the production design and costumes had a sizeable budget. Jennifer Saunders was surprisingly good value, but, as others have noted, Havers and Zerdin are just doing the same material every year. Some fresh talent would not go amiss, but I'd stick with the other regulars, Clary and Wilmott, who are always excellent. The main problem is that the show has become a victim of its own success with outrageously expensive prices, meaning that many pantogoers are priced out. Without special offers, I fear that this may be my last. It's not that I couldn't afford the inevitable 2024 price hike, it's just that I think they're getting greedy now, and I don't want to support that. Four stars. Act 1: 19:34-20:48 Act 2: 21:08-22:06 |
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