If vociferous response from young and old alike is a true measure of panto success then this staging is a winner. ‘Deafening’ describes the noise generated by every invitation to participate.
Director Nigel Wild ensures the storyline is given due emphasis and scenes have strong impact, though breaks between should be slicker.
As Fleshcreep, Nigel Pivaro exploits to the full his bad boy image of Terry Duckworth in Coronation Street. Gary Birtles as a bustling Simple Simon is at his best with the children invited on stage to sing Bob the Builder. Greg Ashton plays a very traditional Dame with plenty of masculine attack while Gary Jordan and Lorrie Brown are a well-matched romantic couple, a dashing Jack and his pert Princess.
Nigel Wild projects a jovial and not at all regal King, with Penny Ellis from Big Brother striking an ecological if unlikely note as the Organic Vegetable Fairy, Katy Cucumber.
A notable hit is Daisy the Cow and much more could be made of her undoubted if uncredited talent. The Colin Putz dancers and youngsters from Gloria Hill Smith School are well served by Lee Crowley’s choreography, with music under the direction of Daniel Wach.
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Production information can change over the run of the show.
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