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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 22, 2018 0:14:42 GMT
The first time I saw it one of the girls was called Connie. Did she have blonde hair? long hair ... I’d say light brown rather than blonde I would have said Connie with dark brown hair... but I assume there are three teams of children like any other show. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 22, 2018 0:17:42 GMT
That is because there really are not that many, if any, children there. They want to do the bit so they have to create it. But the responses are incredibly scripted and designed to be funny. I’m not saying real children aren’t funny, but you wouldn’t be able to get the type of jokes they used. And just seeing four children get the tongue twister wrong wouldn’t be all that amusing. |
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Post by happytobehere on Dec 23, 2018 11:19:59 GMT
Was at the 2:30 show yesterday to see my first panto since I was about 7. I mainly booked because standing seats were cheap (and I still had a great view), and because I wanted to see Dawn French & Charlie Stemp. I wasn’t disappointed, it was a really fun afternoon. It was exactly like I expected it to be- incredibly camp & I like that! And the special effects were fantastic, way better than I would’ve thought they’d be.
The only time I was bored was at the end when the ‘story’ had wrapped up & they started bringing kids on stage. It was clearly scripted and a bit dull for me.
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267 posts
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Post by gmoneyoutlaw on Dec 24, 2018 0:51:38 GMT
I'm going to the final performance. I got an orchestra seat. I've seen the other two and look forward to probably the last with this format.
I do love the lavish sets and costumes. Also like to see Julian and his ultra campiness.
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1,861 posts
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Post by NeilVHughes on Dec 24, 2018 8:24:13 GMT
A pleasant surprise, not been to a pantomime before and managed to pick up a cheap standing ticket as unsure whether I would enjoy it enough to risk paying full price.
From the off you get dragged in and the fun and general irreverence is contagious, some fillers as they changed the sets which hindered the flow, overall great fun.
There were some empty seats nearby and did sit for a while, in the end went back to standing as preferred the unhindered view, being a regular groundling has its advantages.
Likely to go again next year and most probably remain standing as for £20 it is a steal, from a Christmasaphobe no greater praise.
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1,995 posts
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Post by distantcousin on Dec 24, 2018 14:06:14 GMT
I never thought Dawn would shine as a baddie - it just doesn't play to her strength and is not a natural fit.
Murder Most Horrid was about the only time we saw a nasty streak, 20+ years ago.
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Dec 24, 2018 23:32:35 GMT
We saw this today and I'd managed to avoid this thread and all reviews, so I will be interested to see if I agree with the majority.
We've seen the two previous Palladium pantos and thought them both great fun. Last year's was fizzing and we came out with our faces aching from laughing so much.
This year, sadly, many performances were phoned in. Christmas Eve and it felt like one of those Boxing day performances when nobody, but nobody, wants to be there. The stand-out exceptions to this were the dwarves, the ensemble and Charlie Stemp who totally gave their all.
The script. Oh, the script. Just awful. Julian needs to close the gate on the back passage jokes. That was basically all he uttered. The scene with Dawn trying to get off with Charlie and her miming the first lines of various songs was totally amateur and cringeworthy. The timing was dreadful. In fact, Dawn was a disappointment (though I still liked her.) Not totally her fault, but there didn't seem to be a niche for her. Last year Elaine (of whom I am not a fan, so it takes some for me to say this) was absolutely hilarious in sending herself up. Dawn didn't fit into this category and the anticipated banter between her and Julian just wasn't there. The whole thing seemed to be lacking fizz and the drab audience reaction reflected this. They pretty much gave up trying to get the audience going after the first 5 minutes.
Don't get me wrong - it was enjoyable enough - but not a patch on last year (apart from the costumes which were stupendous.) We will go again, but hope it gets itself back on form.
Highlights - Vincent & Flavia's Argentine tango, Gary's song (though not a patch on the tube station one) and, um.....dunno.
And if you are the woman in row C of the royal circle who spent the entire first half laboriously texting Rachel in GIANT LETTERS, asking her to go and turn off your alarm, please make your way to the Bad Behaviour Thread where your starring moment will arrive presently. Little Xmas pressie from me in the meantime - if you turn on your predictive text you should be able to spell non-contactable without needing 4 attempts (and which you still got wrong... just saying.)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2018 0:49:41 GMT
The whole thing seemed to be lacking fizz and the drab audience reaction reflected this. They pretty much gave up trying to get the audience going after the first 5 minutes. This is a brilliant summary. The creatives definitely got lazy this year. |
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134 posts
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Post by romeo94 on Dec 26, 2018 11:38:43 GMT
When do the £20 standing tickets go on sale? Is it once they've sold out? I feel like I've missed my chance  |
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315 posts
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Post by westended on Dec 26, 2018 19:02:51 GMT
Any page mentioning “Panto Will Return” this year?
We already know it will, but just wondering since they did this last year.
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Post by Charphaba on Dec 27, 2018 14:51:56 GMT
When do the £20 standing tickets go on sale? Is it once they've sold out? I feel like I've missed my chance The ones for the whole of next week have all now sold out. Not too sure on the last week of the run as I haven't been looking at those dates. |
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1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Jan 1, 2019 12:51:21 GMT
This panto run at the Palladium has been virtually sold out the entire run with top whack prices and no discounting. It surely must have broken the box office record for a Palladium Panto?
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1,736 posts
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Post by fiyero on Jan 1, 2019 12:58:26 GMT
This panto run at the Palladium has been virtually sold out the entire run with top whack prices and no discounting. It surely must have broken the box office record for a Palladium Panto? It must be. I went twice last year on dynamically priced tickets. This year if I hadn't have booked months ago I wouldn't be going! |
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Post by talkingheads on Jan 1, 2019 13:44:05 GMT
I saw this yesterday, and first off I have to commend the production/costume designers, it remains one of the most lavish productions I get to see all year. Julian Clary is worth the price of admission alone, as is Paul Zerdin, whose vent act is superb, as are his ad libbing skills. As for Gary Wilmot, he gets another astonishingly complex number to memorise and performs it with absolute aplomb. However, what is has in spectacle it severely lacks in plot and, for want of a better word, heart. They may as well have advertised this is a variety show and done away with the panto tag altogether. Dawn French, while extremely good at acting the fool, wasn't evil or villainous in the slightest, and my bugbear with any panto is if they don't make the villain evil enough. Also I don't know if it's just me, but the whole 'Nigel Havers is a has been' gag is very, very stale and became boring as soon as it cropped up. Because the truth is that he really DOESN'T add anything of note to the panto as he is given nothing to do!. So yes it is always a breezy enough way to while away a few hours but as a pantomime both Hackney and Hammersmith are miles better, in my opinion of course!
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724 posts
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Post by basdfg on Jan 1, 2019 16:21:15 GMT
Any page mentioning “Panto Will Return” this year? We already know it will, but just wondering since they did this last year. Yes they is - with fairy dust coming from a picture of the Pladium making me think Peter Pan is the next panto. Went Friday. Still fantastic but agree it needs refreshing as some aspects are getting stale. The only new stars this time were Vincent and Flavia -utterly pointless to the plot, even Diversity said a couple of lines and the underused Danielle Hope and the dwarfs.
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Post by zak97 on Jan 1, 2019 16:45:55 GMT
I’m hoping we get an understudy breakthrough this year so that they can star in the next panto, like Natasha Barnes did.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2019 16:50:10 GMT
I’m hoping we get an understudy breakthrough this year so that they can star in the next panto, like Natasha Barnes did. Isn't this the first year they haven't had a "breakout" star in the lead role of that year? So we had Natasha the year she did Funny Girl, Charlie the year he did Sixpence, we've missed the boat with Marisha Wallace, so would be imagine seeing someone like Clare Halse maybe? |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 1, 2019 18:50:39 GMT
We saw this today and I'd managed to avoid this thread and all reviews, so I will be interested to see if I agree with the majority. We've seen the two previous Palladium pantos and thought them both great fun. Last year's was fizzing and we came out with our faces aching from laughing so much. This year, sadly, many performances were phoned in. Christmas Eve and it felt like one of those Boxing day performances when nobody, but nobody, wants to be there. The stand-out exceptions to this were the dwarves, the ensemble and Charlie Stemp who totally gave their all. The script. Oh, the script. Just awful. Julian needs to close the gate on the back passage jokes. That was basically all he uttered. The scene with Dawn trying to get off with Charlie and her miming the first lines of various songs was totally amateur and cringeworthy. The timing was dreadful. In fact, Dawn was a disappointment (though I still liked her.) Not totally her fault, but there didn't seem to be a niche for her. Last year Elaine (of whom I am not a fan, so it takes some for me to say this) was absolutely hilarious in sending herself up. Dawn didn't fit into this category and the anticipated banter between her and Julian just wasn't there. The whole thing seemed to be lacking fizz and the drab audience reaction reflected this. They pretty much gave up trying to get the audience going after the first 5 minutes. Don't get me wrong - it was enjoyable enough - but not a patch on last year (apart from the costumes which were stupendous.) We will go again, but hope it gets itself back on form. Highlights - Vincent & Flavia's Argentine tango, Gary's song (though not a patch on the tube station one) and, um.....dunno. And if you are the woman in row C of the royal circle who spent the entire first half laboriously texting Rachel in GIANT LETTERS, asking her to go and turn off your alarm, please make your way to the Bad Behaviour Thread where your starring moment will arrive presently. Little Xmas pressie from me in the meantime - if you turn on your predictive text you should be able to spell non-contactable without needing 4 attempts (and which you still got wrong... just saying.) Finally starting to see things my way hmmmmmmm? 😬 #downwithpanto |
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Post by westended on Jan 1, 2019 18:56:22 GMT
Any page mentioning “Panto Will Return” this year? We already know it will, but just wondering since they did this last year. Yes they is - with fairy dust coming from a picture of the Pladium making me think Peter Pan is the next panto. Went Friday. Still fantastic but agree it needs refreshing as some aspects are getting stale. The only new stars this time were Vincent and Flavia -utterly pointless to the plot, even Diversity said a couple of lines and the underused Danielle Hope and the dwarfs.
Was the page similar to last year? like this? goo.gl/images/EkmpVn |
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Post by Tibidabo on Jan 1, 2019 21:04:12 GMT
Finally starting to see things my way hmmmmmmm? 😬 #downwithpanto Aw. I was just wondering where you'd got to this year! Anyway. Big news. Now I've got your attention, I wanted to give you advance warning that I'm writing you a leading part in next year's Theatreboard panto. You'll love it. I'm already collecting curtains from the charity shops for your costume. What? Well, obviously 🙄🙄 ........🙄🙄....... the Bairy Godmother, duuuuuh. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2019 21:09:07 GMT
Yes they is - with fairy dust coming from a picture of the Pladium making me think Peter Pan is the next panto. Went Friday. Still fantastic but agree it needs refreshing as some aspects are getting stale. The only new stars this time were Vincent and Flavia -utterly pointless to the plot, even Diversity said a couple of lines and the underused Danielle Hope and the dwarfs.
Was the page similar to last year? like this? goo.gl/images/EkmpVnIts pretty much exactly that but this year its pinky purple not blue and it says on sale spring 2019. |
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524 posts
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Post by callum on Jan 2, 2019 3:11:05 GMT
Think Jack & the Beanstalk would be before Peter Pan... especially since there was a nautically themed Dick sequence last time! Though when was repeating themselves ever an issue?!
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Post by stagey on Jan 2, 2019 13:42:46 GMT
I saw this recently, and whilst is was amazing, I certainly felt like i enjoyed the previous 2 way more. Dawn French was brilliant but I really feel like it needs a complete overhaul for next year. They need a completely new cast in my opinion, don’t bring back anyone. Whilst Havers,, Clary and Zerdin are all great - it does feel repetitive now. If they get an entire new cast next year, it will feel more fresh.
I also sat on the very end seats of the stalls, due to them being much cheaper, but sometimes felt disconnected from the action. This is weird as usually seats on the side make no difference whatsoever as I have sat on the side for shows like Kinky Boots, Jamie, Dreamgirls, Lion King and Hamilton
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Post by zak97 on Jan 2, 2019 17:23:57 GMT
I doubt they will radically overhaul the casting. This year has proven that this cast will still sell after three years. Why would the producers want to change what is a winning formula on their side.
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Post by Montmartre on Jan 2, 2019 17:24:04 GMT
Please could someone tell me what time the matinée ends.
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