Jonathan Wilkes has topped the bill in his hometown panto for the past three years and can claim a fourth consecutive triumph with this classy show.
It’s a lavish affair, with production values as high as Claire Sweeney’s flying Wicked Queen. Yet it still manages to retain an intimate feel, due in no small way to Wilkes’ genuine love of the area and his ability to drop in local place names with conviction, to give Muddles’ gags extra oomph. This great all-round entertainer isn’t the only local lad on show. His own discovery, singer Daniel Hewitt, gets his first professional role anywhere and acquits himself well as the Prince, while Stoke’s legendary darts champ Phil “The Power” Taylor makes regular video appearances in the queen’s magic mirror.
With its overridingly dark theme, this is arguably one of the most difficult of the classic fairytales to adapt for panto, but director Matt Salisbury balances the grim yarn with plenty of levity, not least the inclusion of a riotous version of If I Were Not Upon the Stage, in which The Henchman, Christian Patterson, is particularly hilarious.
A little tightening is needed here and there but all in all, a quality show.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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