1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Nov 7, 2017 13:11:14 GMT
I don't like pantomimes but I think it's early conditioning that's turned me off them. As a child growing up in Derbyshire in the 50s and 60s my parents took me every year to the panto, usually at the Lyceum in Sheffield and sometimes the Theatre Royal in Nottingham. I remember enjoying the 'day out' aspect of it, with the usual associated trip to a Berni Inn or the Kardomah but right from the word go I never enjoyed the panto. Even at 5 years old I found it puerile and the audience participation embarrassing. We went every year for about a decade and then for some reason stopped when I was around 15.
Fast forward about 20 years later to a conversation in the pub with my parents...
Me: 'You know I hated going to the pantomime as a kid but I just used to put up with it cause I know you liked it.'
Parents: 'Oh! no we couldn't stand it, we only went because we thought you enjoyed it.'
All those wasted trips...*
*but the Berni Inn was nice.
|
|
7,545 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by alece10 on Nov 7, 2017 13:39:42 GMT
I don't like pantomimes but I think it's early conditioning that's turned me off them. As a child growing up in Derbyshire in the 50s and 60s my parents took me every year to the panto, usually at the Lyceum in Sheffield and sometimes the Theatre Royal in Nottingham. I remember enjoying the 'day out' aspect of it, with the usual associated trip to a Berni Inn or the Kardomah but right from the word go I never enjoyed the panto. Even at 5 years old I found it puerile and the audience participation embarrassing. We went every year for about a decade and then for some reason stopped when I was around 15. Fast forward about 20 years later to a conversation in the pub with my parents... Me: 'You know I hated going to the pantomime as a kid but I just used to put up with it cause I know you liked it.' Parents: 'Oh! no we couldn't stand it, we only went because we thought you enjoyed it.' All those wasted trips...* *but the Berni Inn was nice. You couldn't beat a good old Berni. Prawn cocktail, steak and blackforest gateau. Such a treat. My mum used to have pineapple juice which in the 70s was actually a starter. (Britvic).
|
|
2,302 posts
|
Post by Tibidabo on Nov 7, 2017 14:18:19 GMT
Three cheers for Tony! Hip hip...... replacement! Now that's worthy of inclusion in a panto script. Oh trust me Tony, it already has been, many many times! As it happened, during this morning's all person staff briefing, the date of the Whole School Jolly Old Trip To The Pantomime was announced. There was an extremely loud collective groan, which finished slightly sooner than I had anticipated, just in time for them all to hear me excitedly imparting the above stolen 'Hip Hip replacement!' line to my neighbour. Long story short.....it would, um, appear that we are doing away with the traditional nativity this year and, um, Someone has been commissioned with writing a panto script.......oooer. (All rubbish jokes gratefully received...)
|
|
4,968 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Nov 7, 2017 14:25:27 GMT
@theatremonkey, this is the opportunity you've been waiting your whole life for. Oh yes it is!!
|
|
2,302 posts
|
Post by Tibidabo on Nov 7, 2017 14:27:19 GMT
@theatremonkey , this is the opportunity you've been waiting your whole life for. Oh yes it is!! Oh..er...maybe I didn't think this through properly....
|
|
2,302 posts
|
Post by Tibidabo on Nov 7, 2017 14:35:30 GMT
The worst panto appearance I ever saw was Frank Bruno , in Bradford . I can’t call it a “performance” because he simply didn’t do anything Bruno went “HU HU HU HU” in his deep voice , and walked off. I've written about Frank Bruno before on the celebrity casting thread. Very similar to your Bradford story bimse , he was playing the genie at Wimbledon a million years ago and was the first celebrity I had seen in anything ever. He rode onto the stage on a tiny kiddie tricycle (which some people found truly hilarious) grunted a bit and rode off. Twice. That was it. It was truly dreadful. It put me off celebrity casting to such an extent that I actively avoid it.
|
|
1,089 posts
|
Post by tonyloco on Nov 7, 2017 15:35:17 GMT
Ooer indeed! Lots of funny stuff going on in this thread at present which I am enjoying.
And perhaps I should now admit that I don't really like a lot of the traditional panto activities like the children yelling and the song sheet number and the totally irrelevant speciality act or participation of an equally irrelevant celebrity but somehow I am intrigued by certain aspects of the genre and I can't keep away. Perhaps I need therapy – Oh no I don't – Oh yes I do.....!
|
|
475 posts
|
Post by bimse on Nov 7, 2017 16:32:56 GMT
The worst panto appearance I ever saw was Frank Bruno , in Bradford . I can’t call it a “performance” because he simply didn’t do anything Bruno went “HU HU HU HU” in his deep voice , and walked off. I've written about Frank Bruno before on the celebrity casting thread. Very similar to your Bradford story bimse , he was playing the genie at Wimbledon a million years ago and was the first celebrity I had seen in anything ever. He rode onto the stage on a tiny kiddie tricycle (which some people found truly hilarious) grunted a bit and rode off. Twice. That was it. It was truly dreadful. It put me off celebrity casting to such an extent that I actively avoid it. Glad it’s not just me that’s deeply unimpressed by celebrities with nothing to offer this important aspect of our culture Tibidabo. I’m told Pamela Anderson was quite dreadful in her panto appearances too, as were most of the big brother contestants who suddenly think they’re performers . I can’t imagine why anyone would see them as any kind of attraction ? Brendan off coach trip anyone? But maybe I’m being unfair, I don’t know what talents Brendan has to offer , he might be an accomplished panto performer for all I know .
|
|
2,302 posts
|
Post by Tibidabo on Nov 7, 2017 16:45:27 GMT
Brendan off coach trip anyone? But maybe I’m being unfair, I don’t know what talents Brendan has to offer , he might be an accomplished panto performer for all I know .Oh no he isn't..
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 16:56:44 GMT
Brendan off coach trip anyone? But maybe I’m being unfair, I don’t know what talents Brendan has to offer , he might be an accomplished panto performer for all I know .Oh no he isn't.. Oh yes he is... (apparently!) (From Brendan’s website:) Pantomimes Starkey, Peter Pan December 2017, Hull New Theatre The King, Sleeping Beauty December 2016, The Grand, Swansea Baron Hard-up, Cinderella, December 2015, Darlington Civic Theatre The King, Jack and the Beanstalk, December 2014, Lyceum Theatre, Crewe King Stefan, Sleeping Beauty, December 2013, Venue Cymru, Llandudno Baron Hard-up, Cinderella, December 2012, Alhambra Theatre, Bradford Herman the Henchman, Snow White and the seven dwarfs, December 2011, Southport Theatre The Sultan, Aladdin, December 2010, Southport Theatre More accomplished than me anyway...!
|
|
475 posts
|
Post by bimse on Nov 7, 2017 17:23:49 GMT
Oh yes he is... (apparently!) (From Brendan’s website:) Pantomimes Starkey, Peter Pan December 2017, Hull New Theatre The King, Sleeping Beauty December 2016, The Grand, Swansea Baron Hard-up, Cinderella, December 2015, Darlington Civic Theatre The King, Jack and the Beanstalk, December 2014, Lyceum Theatre, Crewe King Stefan, Sleeping Beauty, December 2013, Venue Cymru, Llandudno Baron Hard-up, Cinderella, December 2012, Alhambra Theatre, Bradford Herman the Henchman, Snow White and the seven dwarfs, December 2011, Southport Theatre The Sultan, Aladdin, December 2010, Southport Theatre More accomplished than me anyway...! But is he any good? What is his “spesh”? Does he do the “busy bee” or the “tree of truth”?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 17:34:12 GMT
He does “The Wheels On The Bus Go Round And Round”. In Spanish. With a rose in between his teeth. (A kind of ventriloquism...) Wearing incredibly tight bullfighter’s pants. Whatever part he’s playing.
Now that’s what I call “accomplished”...
|
|
475 posts
|
Post by bimse on Nov 7, 2017 18:06:38 GMT
He does “The Wheels On The Bus Go Round And Round”. In Spanish. With a rose in between his teeth. (A kind of ventriloquism...) Wearing incredibly tight bullfighter’s pants. Whatever part he’s playing. Now that’s what I call “accomplished”... I rest my case .......
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Nov 8, 2017 8:49:52 GMT
I don't like pantomimes but I think it's early conditioning that's turned me off them. As a child growing up in Derbyshire in the 50s and 60s my parents took me every year to the panto, usually at the Lyceum in Sheffield and sometimes the Theatre Royal in Nottingham. I remember enjoying the 'day out' aspect of it, with the usual associated trip to a Berni Inn or the Kardomah but right from the word go I never enjoyed the panto. Even at 5 years old I found it puerile and the audience participation embarrassing. We went every year for about a decade and then for some reason stopped when I was around 15. Fast forward about 20 years later to a conversation in the pub with my parents... Me: 'You know I hated going to the pantomime as a kid but I just used to put up with it cause I know you liked it.' Parents: 'Oh! no we couldn't stand it, we only went because we thought you enjoyed it.' All those wasted trips...* *but the Berni Inn was nice. You couldn't beat a good old Berni. Prawn cocktail, steak and blackforest gateau. Such a treat. My mum used to have pineapple juice which in the 70s was actually a starter. (Britvic). I actually worked in a Berni Inn as a student. This was The Wheatsheaf in Virginia Water. I didn't find them very nice to work for but I was an absolute genius in one of my duties: making the cream float on a Gaelic coffee - you make it really sweet and then it floats beautifully - unfortunately if someone asks for no sugar you're buggered. Reading one of Paul O'Grady autobiographies I was amazed to discover he also worked there too and, doing the maths, we must have just missed each other by months! He hated the place as well...
|
|
68 posts
|
Post by lewis on Nov 26, 2017 17:58:26 GMT
any christmas show reports?
Caught the oxford playhouse pantomime jack and the beanstalk and thought it was the strongest its been for a couple of years. Although opening night seemed to have a semi-lame jack - i think carrying an injury from tech!
|
|
2,764 posts
|
Post by daniel on Dec 9, 2017 21:13:40 GMT
This year is the year that Qdos take over 9 of ATG's 10 pantos from FFE (the other one going to UK Productions), so it'll be interesting to see if there's any noticable change in quality compared to previous years. Looking forward to hearing @theatremonkey's thoughts on Wimbledon.
I'm at the Palladium tonight, Wimbledon on Tuesday, Birmingham for opening and closing performances, Theatr Clywd just before Christmas, and there's a few maybes too!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2017 21:49:55 GMT
Apart from Al and Clive who else is in the Wimbledon Panto
|
|
110 posts
|
Post by Sotongal on Dec 9, 2017 22:06:58 GMT
Jack and the Beanstalk at Salisbury Playhouse is excellent. It feels fresh, the cast are great (no celebs!), as is the choreography. The costumes and sets are bright and colourful and not overly glittery. It's very well written, sound and diction is good - you can hear every word clearly pronounced even when the music is playing.
And The Stage gave it 5*.
|
|
2,764 posts
|
Post by daniel on Dec 9, 2017 23:38:46 GMT
I've shared my thoughts on the Palladium's Dick Whittington over on that thread, should anybody be interested.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2017 8:18:01 GMT
Apart from Al and Clive who else is in the Wimbledon Panto Liam Tamne's Jack and Charlotte Gooch is the Princess. Robyn Mellor is Spirit of the Beans. John Jack is Fleshcreep.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2017 11:26:28 GMT
Apart from Al and Clive who else is in the Wimbledon Panto Liam Tamne's Jack and Charlotte Gooch is the Princess. Robyn Mellor is Spirit of the Beans. John Jack is Fleshcreep. Thanks Very Much for that
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2017 13:23:51 GMT
Went to the Qdos panto in Belfast a couple of days ago. It is Peter Pan this year. Wasnt the greatest. The cast were great, and did their best with the material.
Personally dont really think Peter Pan is the right for panto, I'd rather just have the story as it was originally written (or in Goes Wrong form).
But gotta love our local dame, May McFettridge, she has the great talent of picking on the audience.
|
|
475 posts
|
Post by bimse on Dec 11, 2017 18:27:22 GMT
Personally dont really think Peter Pan is the right for panto I agree. It's an odd choice, as it is very "story-heavy" and doesn't have much potential for crazy set pieces like normal panto. The Regent's Park Open Air version is definitive on that one, I'd say - can't wait for May to see it again. Peter Pan never seems to work as a pantomime for me, especially if they try to shoehorn in a Dame character in as Mrs Smee , or a Magic Mermaid character. It’s much better as a play, but then that’s how I remember Peter Pan from my childhood .
|
|
6,347 posts
|
Post by Jon on Dec 12, 2017 2:59:46 GMT
Is Babes in the Wood still performed as a panto? I notice Robin Hood is in the panto staple which I admit I never saw when I was younger.
|
|
2,764 posts
|
Post by daniel on Dec 13, 2017 15:32:00 GMT
I thoroughly enjoyed Jack and the Beanstalk at Wimbledon last night...seems that The Stage disagree, giving it just one star
|
|
2,764 posts
|
Post by daniel on Dec 13, 2017 16:02:34 GMT
Yet five stars on this blog:
|
|
4,361 posts
|
Post by shady23 on Dec 30, 2017 20:52:44 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2017 21:31:33 GMT
Anyone finding any recurring songs in this years pantos? I have seen four pantos this year and "How Far I'll Go" from Disney's Moana has appeared in three of the four.
|
|
|
Post by crabtree on Dec 30, 2017 23:19:34 GMT
I've certainly been in the situation of no payment and having a panto pulled - how do producers keep getting away with it.
|
|
|
Post by firefingers on Jan 1, 2018 16:01:24 GMT
A few thoughts from my panto this year after 40 plus performances.
I get the light up fairy wands, and swords, for fighting off the baddies. They've existed for donkeys' years. Lightsabers are a natural progression of swords I suppose so not too bizzare. But why oh why did my theatre sell light up ray guns? I don't think I have ever seen a panto use a gun except maybe Peter Pan, and even then we are talking old flintlock pistol kind of things. I was at an ATG house so assume it would be the same at the others across the country.
Also, are there audiences messier than a panto? Popcorn and ice cream everywhere by the end! Glad I not an usher. The stench of popcorn was making me feel a little nauseous by the end.
Still amazed the schedules producers are permitted to put panto actors/band members/crew members through. You can finish a show at 9pm on Christmas Eve 100s of miles from home, and still expected to be back for a 2pm on Boxing Day. No chance of a proper Christmas. Boxing day shows always have terrible audiences anyway, not in terms of numbers as they are always sold out, but the audiences are always full up with a Christmas's worth of food and arguments, the kids would rather be home with their new toys and DVDs, the cast are missing their friends and families... No fun for anyone that day.
Still nothing brings people in and makes them happy quite like panto.
|
|