Santa Claus and the return of Jack Frost

Published Wednesday 16 December 2009 at 12:00 by John Hannam

This latest Mayflower Christmas extravaganza has so much variety to offer. There’s shades of traditional pantomime, gags as old as Santa Claus, brilliant topical humour, real seasonal songs, a Susan Boyle send-up, a sensational flying ice dragon, with a voice that resembles Kenneth Williams, and a sparkling cast led by the irrepressible Stephen Mulhern.

Robin Cousins as Jack Frost in Santa Claus and the return of Jack Frost at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton

As a visual spectacle this is so impressive, with reindeer, snowmen and penguins, the skating of former Olympic champion Robin Cousins and some memorable dame humour from Michael Nelson, as Mrs Fridge. His contribution is immense.

Stephen Mulhern is such a natural link man and as the Chief Elf he is the kids’ pied piper. They follow his every move. He’s a genuine, young all-round entertainer with enormous potential. Roy Barraclough is perfectly cast as Santa Claus and Marissa Dunlop (Chilli Fridge) stuns everyone with her vocal power and quality. Cousins, as the baddie Jack Frost, is so at home in a production like this and his stage experience is most evident.

In many pantomimes this season the worth of the ghost scene and the chance for the eagerly awaited “he’s behind you” and other mass audience refrains is still very evident. I wish they could find room for a little more real tradition, particularly for the youngsters, in this beautifully lavish and glorious production. Having a brilliant nine-piece band is a real bonus.