Wizard of Oz, Easter Panto @ Darlington Civic

Who says Pantomime is just a Christmas thing ?  The tried and tested formula of songs, jokes, slapstick humour and well known stories is so often mothballed from Jan to Nov because tradition dictates that Pantomimes are not for all year, they're just for December, and that's a crying shame.

There must be a belief that kids (and adults for that matter) wouldn't enjoy the same type of show at other times of the year ?  But "Oh yes we do", and "Oh yes we did last night" -speaking to the Civic's Theatre Manager he confirmed that the 4 shows will have drawn in over 3500 people in just 2 days.

The Wizard of Oz was given an adrenaline shot a few years ago by the BBC and Andrew Lloyd Webber but forget the "sticking strictly to the film" production, this version was pure, laugh out loud until you almost wet yourself fun.

Staged by Enchanted Entertainment, The Wizard of Oz nicks all the best bits from the original and then squeezes in more jokes, more songs and more kitsch than thought possible.  There are CBBC favourites for the kids to recognise with Tracey Beaker and Sarah Jane and, in Bobby Davro the adults have enough 'nudge nudge, wink wink' to ensure they are laughing just as loud.

Dani Harmer, best known as Tracey Beaker plays Dorothy perfectly.  She gives a great Kansas accent, carries the same naivety as Garland's Dot but still has the street smarts and today references to keep the kids engaged.  It's wonderful that at her tender age she is almost a veteran of stage & screen, is one of the biggest stars in BBC Childrens TV history and known globally, but she can still be reduced to fits of giggles by fart jokes, spluttering sidekicks and Bobby Davro's impromptu double entendres.

Both my girls have grownup with CBeebies and then CBBC so I am well aware of the characters and stars. I haven't been allowed to forget them either as being married to a childminder these two TV channels seem to still be favourite so it was quite bizarre to see Sarah Jane Honeywell live on stage - Sarah has been an unintentionally large part of my peripheral TV viewing over the past 10 years -I say unintentional, but I, like most dads, would never have watched Higgledy House just for Justin! .  She plays Glinda, the good fairy, more like a souped up Tweenie than the regal, grandiose fairy of the film and it's brilliant - the kids loved the cheeky naughtiness, the funky dancing and of course, wearing Heelies on stage - I heard loads on the way out asking their respective parents to dig out their Heelies so they can go be a good fairy.

Bobby Davro proves that there is no substitution for getting up on stage, telling some jokes and having a blooming great time; As the Scarecrow his one liners were so quick that there was a slight time delay as the audience got the previous one, only to then have to catch up again on the next 3 that he had fired, machine-gun like.  Of course, Bobby made his initial break as an impressionist and we are treated to a smorgaas bord of his finest, including a Harry Hill which had many of us believing it WAS Mr Hill who had snuck in as a mystery guest star.  Mr Davro is obviously the most experienced and some would argue therefore headline star but he is so genuine that there is never a moment of "look at me" or "I'm the star" - a true entertainer. 

The whole show is a fun packed afternoon/evening which makes you feel that you have been allowed into the casts' own end of season production - it's so loose and fluid that you can't help just laughing along with the stars on stage as they seem to have as much fun as you do.

It's a little known fact, but Bobby Davro's father was a world record holder and Olympian in both the mile and 1500m - well, in Bobby we have the current Olympic champion in making people laugh - jokes, slapstick, fantastic impressions and cheeky devilment and it's my belief that the UK should be reminded of this more often.

The Wizard of Oz by Enchanted Entertainment is on at Darlington Civic today (Friday 13th) but if you're thinking of going, please phone the box office first as tickets are pretty scarce.  The show is then off to Carlisle for the 14th & 15th April.

UPDATE:  Just had my hand slapped by the Tin Man (which I assure you hurts A LOT) for forgetting the most evilest, wickedest, nastiest witch in the whole of Oz - Kate Richards who at times was so wicked the audience were dumb struck and needed prompting to boo - or maybe they just knew what a darling Kate is really and couldn't bring themselves to hiss at her - either way she was the epitome of a Panto villain, - "Oh yes she was"- and a great singer too.