My friend has written the most enthusiastic review ever about the pantomime – Sleeping Beauty at Richmond Theatre. Totally different style to me – she’s made me feel guilty about being so Bah Humbug about life…..
Over to her for some good old Christmas cheer:-
Di-Vine Panto!
I have a guilty secret…I LOVE PANTO…the tradition, the OTT costumes, the silly jokes, the catchy songs, ‘the romance’…and most of all – the audience participation and the ad-libs. Over the years I have managed to embarrass my children sufficiently by joining in all of the songs and chorus’ ‘He’s behind you’, ‘Oh no he’s not’, that only 1 out of 3 of them wanted to come with me to the pantomime in Richmond. Luckily I managed to ‘borrow’ some more children from my friends – so, four of us set off to enjoy the opening night of “Sleeping Beauty” at the Richmond Theatre on The Green.
Walking across the Green and seeing the beautiful Richmond Theatre all lit up puts you in a festive mood from the word go. It is quite simply stunning and magical (why bother with the hassle of the West End?). Lots of people were flooding into the theatre of all ages. It is amazing, and quite frankly a relief, to see that there are some groups of all-adults there too (so next year when I am finally dumped by no. 3 child I can still go along without feeling weird).
My three young companions were really looking forward to seeing “Sleeping Beauty”, obviously we all knew the story and the final outcome, but the fun of the Panto is seeing how they arrive there in their version.
I think that the casting was excellent. Who wouldn’t love Tim Vine as the Jester? He gives out so much energy in his role, it made me feel quite exhausted just watching him. Very endearing and so quick with the jokes (I believe he has a world record for speed joke telling!). His version of the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ was particularly crazy and manic. Anita Dobson, another ‘local’ actress plays the Wicked Fairy Karaboosh, she looked absolutely amazing (in a wicked way) and managed to whip up enough ‘boos and hisses’ that you hate her (but you don’t really). Sophie Isaacs is the perfect and tiny princess and her prince played by Jon Robyns has got a mega voice (and pretty good to look at too!) – so the two of them just keep that romantic dream alive!
We had a ‘happy ever after ending’ – I loved it (but I’m pretty easily pleased); so what of my more critical companions, the Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole and Danni Minogue judges of Panto? Over to some of the quotes from the children:-
“I want to come again – it’s really funny”
“I liked the scenery and the costumes because they were so sparkly and magical…and the music, they had really great voices”
“My favourite bit was by the Wishing Well…and I loved the Nursey Penny panto dame. It’s really good.”
Best bit of all for the children – we waited by the Stage Door and Tim Vine signed their programmes and sponge BOO hands (on sale at the Theatre if you want to see what those look like!). And he was really nice about it too – still cracking jokes.
So, if you want a really magical-get-you-in-the-mood- for-Christmas-sparkly-loveydovey-he’s-behind-you kind of a night out DO go to the Panto in Richmond…(grumbly Scrooges need not apply!)”
