London and South East pantomime round-up
Family pantomime is back and, if reports are anything to go by, ticket sales are up on last year, despite fears that the cost-of-living crisis might have a detrimental impact. In London and the South East, producers are pulling out all the stops to ensure that families get their money’s worth
Family pantomime is back, and if reports are anything to go by, ticket sales are up on last year, despite fears that the cost-of-living crisis might have a detrimental impact. In the London and South East, producers are pulling out all the stops to ensure that families get their money’s worth.
Sleeping Beauty (★★★) is a challenge for any producer, with its gap of 100 years in the story. Writer and producer Paul Hendy fudges the narrative, dispensing with pastel fairies and kings and queens in favour of set routines, spectacle and a star turn from West End star Carrie Hope Fletcher. The Cinderella star played Carabosse at the Marlowe last year, and returns to the role with her evil cackle well-honed and a superstar belt that does justice to some killer tunes.
The remodelling of the story will be a hit with young audiences, especially as Carabosse is attended by two life-size velociraptors named Lloyd and Webber. The ghost scene, too, has everything thrown at it, from a giant spider to Frankenstein’s monster, while the Pantomime Song has thankfully had a rock’n’roll makeover. These updates are tempered by old-school comedy from Michael J Batchelor as Nurse Nellie, celebrating his 10th year at the Hawth, and CBeebies’ Andy Day as the clown Jangles. This is a fairytale with attitude, even if romance between Chrystine Symone’s Aurora and Luke Walsh’s Prince Michael is heavily diluted.
Cinderella (★★★★) is often considered the most magical of pantomimes, and that’s certainly true at the New Wimbledon. That’s not least because comedy magician Peter Firman makes an excellent Buttons, with more than a few tricks up his sleeve. His antics make up the bulk of the comedy and his banter with the audience is a delight.
The main attraction here, however, is Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood as the wicked Baroness Hard-up. Channelling Margaret Lockwood for glamour and Cruella De Vil for villainy, Horwood is a treat, towering in heels above the rest of the company, while gamely lampooning his own public persona. Horwood also pays his dues in the dance stakes, tearing up the ballroom floor with an energetic series of moves before the clock inevitably strikes midnight.
Alison Jiear provides warmth, glitter and class as an enchanting Fairy Godmother, and Daniel Norford proves a genial Dandini. Leanne Jones and Catherine Morris as the stepsisters are suitably mean, but don’t deliver as much slapstick as the roles usually demand. Cassie Compton’s Cinderella is gracious and likeable, especially in her exchanges with Firman and her sweet if predictable romance with Solomon Davy’s urbane Prince Charming.
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There’s a husband-and-wife team headlining at Richmond for Dick Whittington (★★), with Paul Merton and Suki Webster an affable pairing as Sarah the Cook and Suki the Sweet Maker respectively. Webster is new to the genre, and lacks the easy familiarity required for this kind of comedy gig; Merton’s usual deadpan delivery gets most of the laughs. Vivien Parry is a gloriously haughty Queen Rat, evidently revelling in the audience participation, with Wendy Mae Brown a glittering antithesis as the Spirit of Bow Bells.
In Alan McHugh’s slight script, Jack Danson as Dick and Erin Sophie Halliday as Alice barely get a moment to establish themselves as characters, let alone juvenile leads. Danson has a fine swagger and leads an uplifting Dance The Night Away onboard a ship to open the second act. One of the highlights of this production is Jonathan Mawson’s choreography, with Ryan Lee and Callum O’Brien bringing energy to the routines. Charile Smart, too, brings expression and slick moves to the role of Eileen the Cat. Otherwise, the production seems dogged by technical issues, lacklustre effects and a weak script, making it seem a poor relation to Wimbledon’s Cinderella.
It’s been several years since the Broadway in Catford has hosted a pantomime, so the arrival of Susie McKenna, longtime director of the Hackney Empire pantos, is cause for excitement. In her Jack and the Beanstalk (★★★★), McKenna uses the underlying themes of poverty and social injustice to take some broadly comical political swipes. This choice is enhanced by Ben Fox’s hilariously familiar Boris the Cockroach, terrorising the villagers of Lewish Farm on behalf of the Giant.
McKenna’s fresh and funny take on the story develops new relationships, incorporates an environmental message and establishes a new pantomime star in Durone Stokes as a wide-eyed, eternally optimistic Jack. Musical director Ben Goddard-Young gives us songs from Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder and Neil Diamond, while Derek Elroy is on fire as Dame Delores Trot, wearing some of the shortest skirts in pantoland. There are excellent vocals, too, from Siobhan Athwal, who doubles as both the Queen Bee and Boris’ voracious, controlling wife Antoinette.
McKenna knows instinctively how to structure the thrills and spills of pantomime while making it deeply relevant to its local audience. There are issues with Lee Waddington’s sound design that need attention – but otherwise, this independent production is a breath of fresh air.
In Croydon, Fairfield Halls is another venue endeavouring to attract local audiences, and this year’s Aladdin (★★★★) – directed by Sarah Redmond – has all the right ingredients. EastEnders and Holby City actor Davood Ghadami lends muscle – quite literally – to the role of Abanazar. Ghadami camps up the villainy with big gestures and a bold, declamatory style in a production that focuses more on a story than on well-worn routines. Richard J Hunt as Widow Twankey and a seemingly inexhaustible Charlie Guest as Wishee Washee thread a line of comedy throughout that will appeal to the parents as much as the kids. Along with Kian Zomorodian as Aladdin, the three characters get some quality time together on stage to create a rare sense of family with the three characters.
Xenoa Campbell-Ledgister as the Spirit of the Ring opens with the haunting Nature Boy, but the mix of songs from musical director Tom Knowles veers toward modern pop rather than classic. There’s also a surprise turn from Ross Dorrington as an out-and-proud Genie, performing some breathtaking backflips before granting the usual three wishes. Redmond’s production features a large, talented cast supplemented by children from local dance schools and a set design in bold, primary colours. What it may lack in spectacular effects, it more than makes up for in fun, enthusiasm and local colour.
Sleeping Beauty
Venue: Hawth, Crawley
Dates: December 8-31, PN December 10
Author: Paul Hendy
Director: Tom Murray
Design: Terry Parsons, Michelle Marden, Stuart Relph (set), Terry Parsons, Helga Wood, Ella Haines, Amy Chamberlain, Michael J Batchelor (costumes), Jack Weir (lighting), Phil Wilson (sound)
Musical director: Emma Fraser
Choreographer: Josie Lee
Technical: Emily Behague (company stage manager), Lynda Syms (head of wardrobe)
Cast: Carrie Hope Fletcher, Andy Day, Michael J Batchelor, Luke Walsh, Scott Paige, Chrystine Symone, Circus Uncertainty
Producer: Evolution Pantomimes
Running time: 2hrs 15mins
Cinderella
Venue: New Wimbledon Theatre, London
Dates: December 8-January 7, PN December 13
Authors: Alan McHugh, Pete Firman, Matt Slack
Director: Michael Gyngell
Design: Ian Westbrook (set), Teresa Nalton, Ron Briggs, John Brooking, Mike Coltman (costumes), Richard G Jones (lighting), Chris Whybrow (sound), Twins FX (special effects)
Musical director: Michael Bradley
Choreographer: Lizzi Gee
Technical: Andy Reader (production manager), Robin Turley Smith (company stage manager), Helen Robinson Tsingos (wardrobe)
Cast: Craig Revel Horwood, Pete Firman, Alison Jiear, Daniel Norford, Leanne Jones, Catherine Morris, Solomon Davy, Cassie Compton
Producer: Crossroads Pantomimes
Running time: 2hrs 25mins
Dick Whittington
Venue: Richmond Theatre, London
Dates: December 9-January 7, PN December 14
Authors: Alan McHugh, Paul Merton
Director: Jonathan O’Boyle
Design: Simon Wilkinson (lighting), Ollie Durrant (sound)
Musical director: Pierce Tee
Choreographer: Jonathan Mawson
Technical: Ben Arkell (production manager), Jonathan Gosling (company stage manager), Georgina Illingworth (wardrobe)
Cast: Paul Merton, Suki Webster, Wendy Mae Brown, Vivien Parry, Jack Danson, Charlie Smart, Erin Sophie Halliday
Producer: Crossroads Pantomimes
Running time: 2hrs 25mins
Jack And The Beanstalk
Venue: Broadway Theatre, Catford
Dates: December 13-31, PN December 15
Author/director: Susie McKenna
Design: Lotte Collett (costumes), Simisola Majekodunmi (lighting), Lee Waddington (sound)
Musical director: Ben Goddard-Young
Choreographer: Aimee Leigh
Technical: Hannah White-Mackenzie (company stage manager)
Cast: Siobhan Athwal, Derek Elroy, Ben Fox, Evelyn Hoskins, Wayne Rollins, Durone Stokes
Producers: Joy Productions, Broadway Theatre
Running time: 2hrs 30mins
Aladdin
Vebue: Fairfield Halls, Croydon
Dates: December 16-January 7, PN December 17
Author: Jon Monie
Director: Sarah Redmond
Design: Jon Harries, Jason Bishop, Ian Wilson (set), Elizabeth Dennis (costume), David Hart (sound), John Roansforth (lighting)
Musical director: Tom Knowles
Choreographer: Anthony Whiteman
Technical: Patrick Shiels (company stage manager), Yang Lui (wardrobe)
Cast: Davood Ghadami, Kian Zomorodian, Charlie Guest, Richard J Hunt, Mark Peachy, Xenoa Campbell-Ledgister, Kiera-Nicole, Ross Dorrington
Producers: Martin Dodd, UK Productions
Running time: 2hrs 25mins
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