From the moment the curtain rises the audience is hit with all the bells and whistles of traditional family panto.
It blends spectacle, comedy, and music in a way that feels both fresh and nostalgic. Dame Daisy Trott (John Elkington) bursts onto stage as if shot out of a Christmas cracker, delivering classic dame gaffs that feel more considered than the usual recycled puns many other productions rely upon. Elkington clearly displays a natural talent for comedy and champions lightning speed reactions to late comers and hecklers in the audience.
Musical numbers are rolled out on the farm, complete with dancing chickens and a legen-dairy performance from ‘Pat the Cow’ performed with gusto by Alice Redmond. The vocals and talent of the entire cast pulls the production through with engaging pace and quality.
Nottingham-centric gags are perfectly balanced, weaving in timely social commentary, often with underlying digs at the current imbalance between those with money and those who are more on the Jack side of fortune.
The pursuer, the Sheriff of Nottingham-esque Fleshcreep, played addictively by Tom Hopcroft, is a natural comedian you’d love to welcome round your Christmas table.
Jack (Hinton Flynn) and Jill (Jewelle Hutchinson) power their way through ballads, dance routines and monologues effectively. Their guidance, from Their Fairy Godmother, being cleverly signed rather than sung or spoken.
Visually, the show fizzes with a bright, glittery setting, culminating with a classic childhood memory of a giant, voiced by Sir Ian McKellen.
Sitting comfortably alongside Nottingham’s soap star studded panto counterpart, Nottingham Playhouse’s offering feels genuine, impeccably written and performed with enough classic set pieces to make you feel like you’ve enjoyed a slice of Christmas tradition.
A tradition that your family will want to relive over and over, which thankfully, with a QR code in the programme, you can.
Review by Dan Lord
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