REVIEW: CINDERELLA (London Palladium) ★★★★★
You shall go to the ball (oh yes you shall)! Once considered the home of panto, after a 30 year break, the London Palladium finally opens its gates to the traditional Christmas celebrations again. The anticipated comeback is lead by a star-studded cast with Lee Mead as Prince Charming, Paul O’Grady as the Evil Stepmother, […]
REVIEW: RICKY WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT (New Diorama Theatre) ★★★★★
The purpose of any good pantomime is to imbue audiences with a sense of comfort, good humour and seasonal cheer. So how about one that plunges its audience into a socio-political satire dripping with painful truths? Astonishingly, Ricky Whittington & His Cat, the newest work from comedy powerhouse Fight in the Dog, manages to mix […]
REVIEW: POTTED PANTO (Garrick Theatre) ★★★★
As the audience files into the Garrick Theatre, the auditorium buzzes with festive cheer. There are seasonal jumpers being paraded through the aisles and children are bouncing in their seats, watching the stage with anticipation. I jovial gentleman leaps from the wings and down the stairs, greeting ticket holders and shaking hands. As he gets […]
REVIEW: THE ADVENTURES OF DICK (Leicester Square Theatre) ★★★★
‘Tis the season for outlandish and exciting pantomimes, and what better way to enhance your tired-out, classic idea of what a panto is than to thrust (literally) your way into a new way of looking at one? If you haven’t been to an adult panto before then you’re seriously missing out on what Cilla would […]
REVIEW: SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (New Victoria Theatre) ★★★
Last night, after an early evening of trying to overcome the latest train strike and the interminable weather, I finally arrived back home to a warm and cozy fireplace only to be told that we were heading straight out again… This time “Hey Ho” off to Woking we go, to watch the New Victoria Theatre’s […]
REVIEW: MOTHER GOOSE (Wilton’s Music Hall) ★★★
Mother Goose may be one of the most traditional pantomines but it must be said that it isn’t one that has stood the test of time. While most theatres are wheeling out the big hitters this time of year such as Cinderella and Snow White, Wilton’s Music Hall picked a tale that is as steeped […]
REVIEW: Ferris & Milnes – Christmas Cracker (Ambassadors Theatre) ★★★
I first saw Ferris and Milnes in June this year when they performed 31 West End musicals in under ten minutes at West End Live. After being delighted throughout, I was very much looking forward to their festive West End debut at the Ambassador’s Theatre and am happy to say that, musically, the duo did […]
REVIEW: DREAMGIRLS (Savoy Theatre) ★★★★
The 1981, Tony Award winning Musical Dreamgirls is probably best known for the 2006 film adaption starring Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson. The show is based on the black girl groups of the sixties like The Supremes, trying to become mainstream artists, in a world dominated by men and white music. The Dreamettes (Effie White, Deena […]
REVIEW: 2 BECOME 1 (Kings Head Theatre) ★★
2 Become 1: The 90s Pop Musical was created by Kerrie Thomason and Natasha Granger based on the music they grew up with. A love letter to 90’s girl power, the musical features music from All Saints, B*Witched, Shania Twain, Cher, Alanis Morissette, Britney Spears and The Spice Girls among others. Following a sell-out run […]
REVIEW: ALADDIN (Waddon Leisure Centre, Croydon) ★★★
In this whole review of Aladdin you will not be bothered by any silly “look behind you” quotes or cheesy “Oh no he isn’t ” tomfoolery…… your humble reviewer is not so childish as to resort to these kind of tricks. (Oh yes he is). Oh no I’m, ……er’ I’m sorry, just defending my self. […]