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Post by talkingheads on Nov 10, 2019 13:36:47 GMT
Just noticed The Mayflower has one performance with all tickets £15 on 3rd Jan, might be tempted. Did Marti Pellow get good write ups last time he did panto? Also a very interesting article on the varying cost of pantos this year. Seriously puts it in perspective with figures like 'It would cost a family of four £700 for top price tickets to the Palladium panto'. Also interesting to see the dearth of certain pantos, with only two of Mother Goose for example www.pocketsizetheatre.com/2019/11/pantomime-201920-most-expensive-and.html |
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Post by talkingheads on Nov 11, 2019 17:42:38 GMT
Seriously puts it in perspective with figures like 'It would cost a family of four £700 for top price tickets to the Palladium panto'. That blog seems to have vanished, which is good, as that figure is rubbish. You can have 4 front row stalls for £250 or £330 if you go top non-premium band A price, the cheapest upper circle would cost a family £118 - and that would be peak dynamic pricing on both. Compare that with £232 for 4 to Alton Towers on the day, £132 in advance, and it isn't that far off. I did wonder what section you'd have to sit in to justify the alleged £175 each! Also I went ahead and booked for Southampton. £15 a ticket is amazing value! Not sure about Peter Pan as a panto though, presumably there's no Dame? |
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Post by talkingheads on Nov 11, 2019 18:21:07 GMT
I did wonder what section you'd have to sit in to justify the alleged £175 each! Middle stalls or front central dress circle. I paid about £15 for Wimbledon on the ATG card discount. Very good value, I agree. No dame in Peter Pan, and I'm not sure if it is even a panto either, really. Yeah, I'm interested to see. I genuinely think they've cast Marti Pellow just so that when he's thrown overboard at the end they can make a Wet Wet Wet gag. |
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Post by talkingheads on Nov 23, 2019 16:43:33 GMT
Well that's the first panto of the season down! Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmith. I enjoyed it but in truth it isn't a patch on last year. I was pleased fo see Jodie Jacobs back in the cast, she's got a hell of a set of pipes on her. The problem I think was in the villain, here played by Shobna Gulati. Great actress but poorly served by some very weak jokes, last year's Queen Rat as played by Sarah Louise Young was one of the best villain performances I've seen in panto so a lot to live up to. Mairi Barclay and Lauren Samuels are great as the comic relief Ugly Sisters and go for the slapstick with real gusto
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2019 17:32:49 GMT
Not sure if it was on here but someone asked about the longest serving dame. I asked the question on a Panto website and Nigel Ellacott has said this is his 37th/38th consecutive year as an Ugly Sister/Dame and will be his 45th year in panto. But Charles Burden has said this will be his 54th time as a Dame. Nigel also pointed out that Ronne Coyles did about 66 pantos according to some reports many of which were as a female character. Nigel hasn't records of them all but has details of Ronne being in panto as early as 1952 up until 2008/09 when he retired aged 78. Ronne sadly died in January 2017 aged 86. There is a tribute to him on the excellent www.its-behind-you.com website which Nigel helps run. If you have any specific panto questions I'd suggest posting them on that site's message board as a lot of performers will post or look at it and are likely to be best placed to answer anything you may want to know. |
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Post by anita on Nov 24, 2019 10:46:18 GMT
I don't usually do pantos [ not since kids grown-up & left home] but can't resist the chance to see Biggins in Bromley.
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Post by stevej678 on Nov 25, 2019 22:39:03 GMT
Just back home after a trip to the Liverpool Everyman this evening to see the second preview of the institution that is their annual rock & roll panto. This year it's 'Sleeping Beauty: Bohemian Napsody'! Really they deserve an award for that title alone! It's a brilliant cast of actor musicians they've assembled once again who treat us to a heavily adapted take on the well-known story and received a standing ovation from tonight's audience. I especially enjoyed the performances of Stephanie Hockley as Princess Rosa, Anna Soden as Fairy Poppins and the multi-roling Danny Burns who became increasingly irate about the number of characters he had to play and the speed of his costume changes as the evening progressed! Musically we were treated to The Proclaimers, Ken Dodd (!), Katy Perry, Bruno Mars and Queen to name just a few. It's two hours forty minutes of pure escapism that does everything it says on the tin but still feels as fresh as a daisy. So very tempted to see it again and also looking forward to a second helping of rock & roll panto, courtesy of Jack and the Beanstalk at Theatr Clwyd, next month.
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Post by showgirl on Nov 26, 2019 4:47:06 GMT
The above sounds fabulous, stevej678 - wish there was something similar near me. I know there are many options in the London area but I'd prefer to avoid that journey at this time of year, what with school hols, rail engineering, risk of weather disruption, etc. London in December is as bad as in August but with more clothing and worse weather. Instead I'm happy to have plumped for a return visit to the Yvonne Arnaud in Guildford, having enjoyed their Cinderella last year. This year it's Sleeping Beauty but I realise it's more about seeing the same regulars return and being cast in the most suitable role and pop songs being inserted at appropriate moments. Kit Hesketh-Harvey was a revelation last year so he's one performer I'm looking forward to seeing again. |
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Post by tysilio2 on Nov 26, 2019 9:44:54 GMT
Just back home after a trip to the Liverpool Everyman this evening to see the second preview of the institution that is their annual rock & roll panto. This year it's 'Sleeping Beauty: Bohemian Napsody'! Really they deserve an award for that title alone! It's a brilliant cast of actor musicians they've assembled once again who treat us to a heavily adapted take on the well-known story and received a standing ovation from tonight's audience. I especially enjoyed the performances of Stephanie Hockley as Princess Rosa, Anna Soden as Fairy Poppins and the multi-roling Danny Burns who became increasingly irate about the number of characters he had to play and the speed of his costume changes required as the evening progressed! Musically we were treated to The Proclaimers, Ken Dodd (!), Katy Perry, Bruno Mars and Queen to name just a few. It's two hours forty minutes of pure escapism that does everything it says on the tin but still feels as fresh as a daisy. So very tempted to see it again and also looking forward to a second helping of rock & roll panto, courtesy of Jack and the Beanstalk at Theatr Clwyd, next month. I'll be at Theatr Clwyd as usual, for Jack and the Beanstalk next month as well. Cant wait. |
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Post by stevej678 on Nov 26, 2019 20:28:00 GMT
Think this photo does a great job of capturing the vibe of Sleeping Beauty at the Everyman in Liverpool.  Full set of production photos on the Everyman & Playhouse website. Couldn't resist booking again for January! |
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Post by Rukaya on Nov 26, 2019 22:15:00 GMT
I'm going to try and get to the Lyric Hammersmith and Hackney Empire for their pantos, always heard good things!
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Post by schuttep on Nov 27, 2019 11:21:09 GMT
I don't normally see pantos but did see the nearest thing last Sunday at the Theatre Royal in Brighton: Peter Pan Goes Wrong. Superb! (Oh yes it was!)
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Post by talkingheads on Dec 1, 2019 9:45:52 GMT
It was my now annual visit to Hackney Empire yesterday and what a treat it was. Not to denigrate the Lyric, but this was on a whole different level. First and foremost, Clive Rowe remains a master of his craft and one of the greatest Dames I've seen on the stage, perfect mix of ribald repartee and the corniest jokes imaginable. Tony Whittle was also wonderful comic relief, as was Kat B at the very energetic Cat. Really everything a great panto should be.
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 7, 2019 18:09:47 GMT
I wouldn't know off the top of my head but I'd think that Biggins has probably made the most Dame appearances as anyone currently in Panto. Jeffrey Holland is a couple of years older than Chris and may well have done as many pantos as him but may have not played the Dame as much. He is playing Alderman in Dick Whittington this year for example. Allan Stewart up in Scotland turns 70 next year so could have notched up a lot of Dame appearances. Just seen a video promoting the Wolverhampton panto and Jeffrey Holland mentions its his 45th panto. Also, the first time he has worked with Su Pollard in over 20 years. There's no way Biggins is retiring this year. He sat in front of me in the audience earlier this year and he was just so full of life and interacting with everyone. A delightful man who loves the limelight. Barring the uncertainties of life, he'll be on the stage at least ten more years. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2019 3:36:32 GMT
I wouldn't know off the top of my head but I'd think that Biggins has probably made the most Dame appearances as anyone currently in Panto. Jeffrey Holland is a couple of years older than Chris and may well have done as many pantos as him but may have not played the Dame as much. He is playing Alderman in Dick Whittington this year for example. Allan Stewart up in Scotland turns 70 next year so could have notched up a lot of Dame appearances. Just seen a video promoting the Wolverhampton panto and Jeffrey Holland mentions its his 45th panto. Also, the first time he has worked with Su Pollard in over 20 years. There's no way Biggins is retiring this year. He sat in front of me in the audience earlier this year and he was just so full of life and interacting with everyone. A delightful man who loves the limelight. Barring the uncertainties of life, he'll be on the stage at least ten more years. Biggins could follow the Jeffrey Holland route and not play the dame but still be in panto. That would cut out all the quick changes which must make the schedule even more hectic. Biggins could do the Man in the Mirror in Snow White - Lionel Blair played that well into his late 70's or Emperor in Aladdin etc. There are a lot of none Dame roles they could shape for him if he does continue but decides to hang the frock up. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Dec 8, 2019 18:25:02 GMT
Against my better judgement, I was persuaded to attend the Oxford Playhouse pantomime this afternoon. Beauty and the Beast isn't a panto story and it showed.
The first character we met was Brian the Orang Utan. And it went down from there.
The script was lamentable awful. Not a single joke landed properly. The word play was poor and the plot very random.
The opening village scene was a reworking of the opening from Trainspotting....
The dame was just unfunny. Lacking in warmth, humour and charisma.
Beauty hardly got any stage time. Beast even less.
It was loud. And looked cheap.
I don't think I could have enjoyed it less.
And to cap it all, they did a collection at the end for the Oxford Playhouse.. unforgivable
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Post by callum on Dec 8, 2019 20:03:33 GMT
Trying to convince my family to go to Darlington to see La Ballas... anyone making that trip let me know if it’s any good!!
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Post by kathryn on Dec 8, 2019 20:31:36 GMT
Saw Hackney Empire’s Dick (ooh-er!) Wittington last night.
Loads of fun! Clive Rowe terrific as always, and we especially enjoyed booing Boris the Rat.
(This is not the panto to go to if you want to avoid politics.)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2019 21:49:06 GMT
Ipswich Regent for Adam Garcia's panto debut! Think it's going to be one to look out for.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2019 10:56:06 GMT
Ipswich Regent for Adam Garcia's panto debut! Think it's going to be one to look out for. This also includes Cleo Demetriou who was one of the original Matilda's and is now a lead in a CBBC show. It will be interesting to find out what her vocals are like now she is older. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2019 13:25:42 GMT
Ipswich Regent for Adam Garcia's panto debut! Think it's going to be one to look out for. This also includes Cleo Demetriou who was one of the original Matilda's and is now a lead in a CBBC show. It will be interesting to find out what her vocals are like now she is older. It does indeed! Are you going to see it too? |
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Post by WEGuy93 on Dec 9, 2019 13:37:59 GMT
I'm really going to miss panto this year - I used to work in a regional venue and was there for the last 6 panto seasons. May have to book the Palladium.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2019 16:30:56 GMT
This also includes Cleo Demetriou who was one of the original Matilda's and is now a lead in a CBBC show. It will be interesting to find out what her vocals are like now she is older. It does indeed! Are you going to see it too? No I live in the Midlands but if I was nearer I'd certainly go and see it. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2019 17:01:03 GMT
I saw Cinderella in Lichfield a couple of weeks ago. Sam Rabone is a great young panto talent mainly as a Dame but was playing Buttons this year so show wasn't quite as good as other years but still well worth a look as it was a fun show and very reasonably priced.
Last night I saw Dick Whittington at Wolverhampton Grand, Ryan Thomas in the title role was a bit underused but Su Pollard as Queen Rat was a scream and even morphed back into Peggy when she was made good. Jeffrey Holland had been suffering with a cold and his voice was croaky but he got through the show soundly. Ian Adams as Dame/Writer and Director pulled together his usual quality show plus at under 2 hours 30 mins wasn't overlong for younger audience members.
Tonight I'm hoping to see Peter Pan at Birmingham Rep which is doing an interesting retelling of the story with a female Hook in Nia Gwynne.
It's ironic how pantos have moved away from casting women as the principle boys yet often now cast them in former mainly male roles. In one way actresses have lost out but gained more role opportunities in another.
Even having a boy and girl dynamic as Prince Charming and Dandini is never done and why not colour blind casting as Ugly Sisters. I've seen BAME actors like Gary Wilmot play the Dame and Clive Rowe also excels in this role but I've never really heard of a BAME Ugly Sister or Sisters. We have had BAME actors playing the son/brother of white actors at places like RSC so why not in Panto?
If you ever had the Evil Stepmum in Cinders then a White and BAME pair of Ugly Sisters would open up a lot of jokes.
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Post by talkingheads on Dec 14, 2019 17:58:14 GMT
Mother Goose at The Marlowe in Canterbury today. It's a panto I've always wanted to see and it did not disappoint. Ben Roddy absolutely dominates the show as the titular character and is a fantastic Dame. Some people just seem born to do it, he reminded me of an old school variety comic in his delivery and repartee with the audience, I ached from laughter. Also a delight to see Jenna Russell, her first foray into panto apparently but of course she was brilliant and her musical numbers were just wonderful to listen to. The villain was a cross between Kenneth Williams and Steve Coogan in his high camp evil persona and he got some great scenes with Russell.
I still stand by Hackney being the best, but this was a very, very close second.
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