The Chuckes of Oz Panto @ Darlington Civic

The Chuckle Brothers have done it again - Oh yes they have !

To nick a phrase from the Fast Show, "Aren't pantos Brilliant ?!" - forget the usual etiquette of theatre going and just let loose, laugh, sing and leave feeling the world isn't too bad a place, the weather isn't that cold and windy and The Chuckle Brothers are rightfully hailed as the best madcap panto double act since Blair and Brown.

This years Civic panto is a retelling of the Wizard of Oz and what is immediately noticeable is that whilst the plot stays true to the original, we're certainly not in Kansas anymore.  The sets are amazing; bright, colourful, quirky and full of detail.  The costumes are fabulous.; Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow all look larger than life, Dorothy and Glinda resplendent in their respective dresses and The Wicked Witch of the West menacingly.... well, green !  A special mention to the backing dancers who must go through many frantic costume changes to keep up with the pace of the scenes.

The cast, of course, is headlined by Barry & Paul.  The boys' brand of humour is instantly recognisable; on the surface they are zany, daft, silly but this belies expert comedic timing and hours of rehearsal.  Masters of their craft they most certainly are, but they still manage to have fun whilst doing it and this rubs off on the rest of the gang too.  Lauren Varnham is Dorothy and is as true to the Judy Garland incarnation as I've seen; wide eyed innocence, boundless energy and just a little bit of sass to keep the boys in check.  Phil Corbitt (Lion), Adam C Booth (Scarecrow) and Danny Potts (Tin Man) are a great trifecta of quest seeking heroes - again, they stay very true to the original movie and because of this there is an instant comfort in knowing what they are about.

The two witches, Beth Stobbart as Glinda the Good and Emma Francis as the Wicked one from the West, are perfectly cast - they offer a wonderful, poles apart, view.  Emma has all the menace and evil one would expect from a green faced, dog knapping, monkey leading, recently sibling bereft broom stick season ticket holder - she prowls the stage with purpose and gives you the shivers when she looks directly at you.  Beth, on the other hand, is purity and innocence personified; a beauty in both looks and voice (although I did detect a little twinkle of mischief in her eyes during the "If I were not in Panto" routine).  Should Wicked ever be released for local production I would be first in the queue to champion Emma & Beth as the leads.

A special mention must go to the orchestra - never has so much music been made by so few for so many, Joe Morley as MD, along with Dave Storer and Sophie Hastings defy physics to create a soundscape as big and rich as a 20 piece pit.

For many years, Panto struggled to compete with the other demands for out attention - video games, blockbuster movies, multi-channel tv.  The format was in danger of becoming tired, a pastiche of what it once was and only good to serve as a nostalgic look back - not any more - the special effects, including the best 3D experience outside of Disney, all make for a totally immersive evening which knocks spots off a trip to the multiplex.

I can't think of a better way to start the festive season - I took both my teenage daughters and I think they were quite shocked to see their dad gasping for breath from laughing so much.  (Plus, Jess seemed to have quite a shine for Barry, especially when he disrobed).  So, if you've not got your tickets yet, what are you waiting for - after a year of austerity, spending cuts and pay freezes go and fill your feel good bank balance - it'll last you right through till next year.

Aladdin Panto @ Durham Gala

Fabulous start to the festive season

It's funny how some traditions live long and strong, year after year. Take Panto season, which is here again (oh yes it is); the usually demure and sedate theatre going audiences are suddenly turned into and accompanied by screaming kids sporting all manner of flashing appendages; the knowing whispers when an actor misses a line are swapped for roars of laugher both on & off the stage and the 4th wall is torn down and ceremoniously trampled on as young and old are encouraged to great the cast with cheers, boos, chants and giggles.

This years offering at Durham Gala is yet again a riotous mix of song & dance which will have everyone in tears of laughter (tho not always for the same reason). Clearly aimed at the kids, the script stays clean and simple, the use of musical numbers fresh and engaging while the visual gags, especially the laundry scene, will never fail to get everyone laughing (or cowering if you’re in the front 6 rows).  Directed by the brilliant (in both talent and name) Gareth Tudor Price, this is another sure-fire success his the every growing list of box office smashes.

Opening with my favourite panto villain, Neil Armstrong, as Abanazar, ensures that the audience are left in no doubt that this is as traditional panto as ever there was. Looking very much like an evil Harold Meeker (from Rentaghost) he elicits all the boos from the kids while playfully abusing their parents. Neil has been playing this type of role for many years and has honed it to such a fine art that I hazard to suggest he probably gets booed throughout the year, not just in panto season. The other Gala stalwart, Paul Hartley, is back, this time as Wishee Washee, and like Neil, brings his perfected panto craft that the kids lap up in spades. The perfect foil for the evil Abanazar, Paul’s Wishee is daftness personified.

Adding to the well known panto cast are some ‘newbies’ – fresh from their run in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Durham, Chris Connel, Viktoria Kay and Robert Hudson make their Panto bows. Chris, as the panto dame, Widow Twankey, had a choice to make, either play it totally camp (a la Christopher Biggins) or bring a more butch element to the role – Chris has gone for the latter and it works perfectly, he never tries to disguise his wonderful northern accent and coupled with his imposing figure in a frock he makes for a quite intimidating dame; if he picks you as his ‘boyfriend’ then you’d better say yes and quick. Viktoria plays the Emperor’s royal policeman and is a fabulous comedic sidekick. Sporting a silent movie style tash which has a life of its own, she is reminiscent of the Keystone Cop Sergeant, full of energy and a huge hit with the kids. Finally Robert, as the Emperor, has the regal poise and authority needed to demand obedience, but underneath there is clearly a sense of fun just waiting for the chance to break free - their homage to Wilson, Keppel and Betty (Google them, you'll know who I mean) had me literally gasping for breath.

Of course, Aladdin wouldn’t be Aladdin without the lead and his Princess. Matt McGoldrick is a very youthful ‘street urchin turned prince’, a friendly and engaging guy who draws the young kids into the land of make believe and keeps them rooting for him throughout. Christina Andrew is every bit the princess; beautiful, kindly and there is clearly some great chemistry between the two.  Ably supported by very talented backing dancers including the uber-lithe Andrew Wragg and Antony Edwards, and the dynamic duo of Jade Bailey and Sophie Taylor, the whole stage is filled with light, colour, movement and fun – a perfect and heady recipe for the best possible start to the festive season.

The Gala pride themselves on providing a wonderful family panto and have rightfully built a reputation of being one of the very best in the north – over 28,000 came to see last year’s and I wouldn’t be surprised if that number is matched again this year. So, if laughter is the best medicine, then go and get your fix and remain healthy all winter.