When Mickey Rooney was born Joe Yule Jr to vaudeville parents in Brooklyn in 1920, few could have pictured him on the other side of the Atlantic 88 years later, headlining an even older form of entertainment. Yet here he is, the actor about to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the longest stage and screen career, playing Baron Hardup in panto - and bringing the Bristol Hippodrome audience to its feet at every performance.
He may have to spend most of the evening hunkered down on various items of Hardup Hall furniture, but he still exudes that legendary Hollywood magic in a couple of spritely musical numbers in what is altogether a lavish show, strong on casting and spectacular in conception.
It is held together by the something for everyone approach of principal comedian Bobby Davro, playing his 15th Buttons. He is a master at audience participation, with a philosophy that by entertaining the parents with a mix of puns, impressions and silly voices, he is keeping the kids happy, too.
The Wicked Stepmother, aka Mrs Hardup, is played with likeable elan by experienced soap villain Michelle Collins, surprisingly making only her second pantomime appearance, while Rooney’s wife Jan lends a watchful eye on both her husband and proceedings in general as the Fairy Godmother.
Chris Dennis and Richard Pocock are a fantastic pair of Ugly Sister, the romance is attractively handled by Vicki Longley’s Cinderella and George Wood’s Prince Charming, and Peter Straker displays a powerful singing style as Dandini.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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