Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Published Friday 7 December 2007 at 11:35 by Thom Dibdin

It has taken a few years for Paul Elliott to groom his Edinburgh audience and team to a point where his circus-based Goldilocks and the Three Bears will work, but his timing is spot on for this year.

Any longer, and the lack of Edinburgh’s traditional variety-basis would have lost the former. The team is now the right size to take on a pantomime combining the celebrity-based formula with circus convention.

Elliott is fortunate in having Allan Stewart on board as resident dame. Stewart can run the whole show as the proprietor of Gertie’s Circus, while slotting in enough songs, gags and impressions to satisfy as the plot slips quickly over the Goldilocks element to focus on the Three Bears joining the circus.

Grant Stott and Jo Freer provide superbly hissable counterpoints as rival circus owners Vladimir Heinkel and Countess Volenska.

The circus elements are outstanding. Speciality acts the Ganbats acrobatic team, Stephanie King and Thomas Caine all fit smoothly in. Clowns Tweedy and Alexis become pivotal to the plot, with Tweedy taking a Buttons-like role as Claire Dargo’s Goldilocks recognises her mistake in falling for James Mackenzie’s dashing Julian. Plenty of gung-ho saltire waving and local gags keep the traditionalists happy and the feeling fresh.