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It is Panto time again and, in common with recent years, The Playhouse
go
with tradition. Not an Aussie soap star, ex-Eastender, or second rate
stand
up comedian in sight. What the audience get instead is a funny, well
acted,
beautifully designed evening of old fashioned family fun, and judging
from
the reactions of those who joined me in the crowd it was just what
was
wanted. It is heartening to think that in this age of Harry Potter
movies
and Playstations that a traditional pantomime can still deliver the
goods.
As the eponymous heroine Mother Goose, Russell Dixon gives us a Dame
with
more than a nod towards the late, great Les Dawson. This was no female
impersonator, this was a bloke in a comedy dress, and the kids loved
him,
especially in his Madonna/Mae West hybrid frock. The principal boy
character, Tommy Tucker, was played with great energy and charm by
Andrew
Norris, whose looks and singing voice would not be out of place in
a chart
topping boy band (this is meant as a compliment), and the necessary
glamour
came from Lizzie Deane, as Fairy Harmony, and Alison Senior, as Lucy
Lockett. The young chorus performers all kept up the pace, and we
cannot
forget a most engaging Goose, mimed wonderfully by Cheryl Blaize.No
panto is
complete without the villains and Lloyd Notice as Vanity, and Chris
Scott,
as the Squire, were in fine moustache twirling, manic laughing form,
and as
Hayseed, the Squire's sidekick, Crispin Harris tugged just the right
number
of heartstrings in his quest for the love of Mother Goose.
The gags came thick and fast with targets including the Oxford Transport
Strategy, and the Kassam Stadium, and with songs from the catalogue
of S
Club 7 and Steps the kids had plenty to sing and clap along to. Michael
Rouse and Paul Knight as musical director and arrange respectively
did a
great job with the score, not just on the songs but also as incidental
effects, and all the cast had strong voices. The overall production
quality
was superb, with the Act 1 Finale being absolutely breathtaking.
It is hard to come away from a show of such panache without a smile
on your
face so if you do not have a child of panto going age do yourself
a favour,
find one and get along to the Playhouse before January 13th.
David
Wootten 07/12/01
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