This a panto of titanic proportions that drew titanic reactions from a packed house. If you are looking for dramatic special effects and high-voltage performers, then rest assured they don’t come much better than this.
Paul Elliott offers everything from firework displays and a diligent robot, to a hot-rockin’ witch, and a surprising ice skating number that suddenly arrives on stage and certainly bears witness to the consummate skills of the Hippodrome stage crew.
John Barrowman is a heroic Robin Hood endowing the folk-hero with all the long-anticipated showbiz clout of a seasoned performer. At one point, Robin is threatened with extinction with a machine which drops spikes into its victim’s body. Elliott creates a Houdini-type escape, Robin vanishes, and we all cheered.
As always, Barrowman’s energy levels seem barely contained within his suit of Lincoln green and he radiates the kind of infectious delight that reaches easily to the upper circle. This Robin proves he can also skate adequately, blending in quite comfortably with the Russian skating professionals.
However, Barrowman’s stellar supremacy is challenged this year by the deeply humourous ventriloquist, Paul Zerdin ( Will Scarlett) who takes at least six stunningly clever solo slots, thus competing with the star for our cheers.
Elsewhere, Hugh Durrant’s sets are consistently marvellous, the Merry Men beef up several numbers and Don Maclean flashes his legs in a startling way when he doffs his Friar Tuck garb, for his glitzy dame’s drag.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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