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March 28 – April 1
Liverpool Playhouse
https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/
4*
Let’s start at the very end, which seems appropriate because of Matthew Bourne’s mischievous fondness and clever knack for turning the everyday and established topsy turvy. After all, his Q&A session seemed to have had the biggest ever turn out, and included a lot about his background as
March 14 – 25
Cyrano
Liverpool Playhouse
https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/
4*
Cyrano de Bergerac is one of those larger than life characters – well, his nose is certainly: a Renaissance Man, skilled in warfare as well as words,
February 7-11
(On tour until February 25)
Pride and Prejudice
Liverpool Playhouse
https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/
3*
A regular Regency romp, played for laughs… Such a rollercoaster of comedy may not seem quite in keeping with Miss Austen’s noted wit,
February 14-18
(On tour until February 25)
Glasgow Girls
Liverpool Playhouse
https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/
4*
It’s always interesting coming to see a play about which you know next to nothing, and a surprise when it turns out that you cannot recall anything
December 9 – 24
Little Red and the Big, Bad Wolf
Unity Theatre
www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
4*
The Unity pantomime is always that little bit different, homely, and, to be honest, homilies – but at least no water (or innuendo) is used
December 10-31
Snow White
Liverpool Empire
http://www.liverpooltheatres.com/empire.htm
4*
Seen one panto, seen them all – it can sometimes feel like that, particularly when you’re on to your umpteenth Cinderella or
(photo: Mark McNulty)
December 9-January 14
The Star: An entertainment by Michael Wynne
Liverpool Playhouse
https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/
4*
You pays your money and you takes your seat, and what do you get? A mixture as rich as the best quality Christmas cake. This is an absolutely
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November 26-January 21
Beauty & The Beast
Everyman Liverpool
https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/
4*
The Everyman Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto has long mastered the tricky art of balancing ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ and coming up with something new, which always takes colossal liberties. The great thing about this is that both cast and audience relish the old favourites along with the latest innovations, the in jokes, the running gags and ad libs, including the ones which when you do take the time to think about it, make no sense at all… They all come thick and fast, exceedingly witty plus the full quota of groaning puns.
The stage is lavishly decorated as a palace (cum island), with the obligatory staircase and trapdoor. Costumes, on the one hand (and the rest of the body of course), are as sparkly and glamorous as you could wave a magic wand at, and on the other, garishly outlandish. All enhanced to the usual high standard by the music which the virtuoso cast produce with huge enthusiasm and talent.
As for the cast, some cracking cameos from Danny Burns as the Chat Show Host with the most extraordinary line of patter, all clichés and catchphrases. Mirror Antoinette, a name which in itself sums up the level of humour, is a dead ringer for Ruth Jones, and Emmy Stonelake also shines as Cobweb and Taboo.
Our heroine, the delightful, dear little Rose White, is played by Stephanie Hockley with trademark helpings of the ditsy and the feisty, although perhaps she should not be grinning quite so gleefully in the fight sequence. But again, all topped off by that powerful singing voice,She is up against the Everyman speciality, the captivating enchantress, although as villainess Narcissus McSissus, Lucy Thatcher went in rather more for massive tantrums than sinister deeds. Nonetheless, she, along with everybody else, simply kept everybody spellbound.
Newcomer Raj Paul as King Tyrell, the tall, dark and handsome…Beast (well, beneath the Phantom of the Opera mask – there’s a lot of cheating going on here as it were but all part of the fun) is a find, acting, singing and dancing flawlessly. By contrast, a welcome return for Tom Connor, an almost terrifying lookalike Paul McCartney, as quirky Sir Cyril of the Wirral, while Lauren Silver is in glittering form as Poppy, Queen of the Fairies. Speaking of which, though I don’t suppose we should in this day and age – ah well: a double helping, you lucky people: the toothsome twosome of camp, Adam Keast and Francis Tucker playing twins, no less. As always, they had the audience enthralled, up to their old tricks whilst making the most of new inventions, and fortuitous ad libs.
Such is the wonderful atmosphere, the simplest comment is greeted with great hilarity: ‘Awkward’, is Prince Cyril’s response to every kind of situation, trivial or disastrous. And if you want an excellent evening out, the simplest thing is to come along and join in the fun. Christmas starts here – oh yes it does.
December 9 – 24
Little Red and the Big, Bad Wolf
Unity Theatre
www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
4*
The Unity pantomime is always that little bit different, homely, and, to be honest, homilies – but at least no water (or innuendo) is used in the making of this production just the usual supply of jokes and puns of course. So the big, bad wolf is not really wicked, just hungry, and angry because the woodcutter, Little Red’s mum, is cutting down the trees. And our heroine learns you should always try not to stray from the straight and narrow, although it is forgiveable because everybody ends up doing it.
The set is as inventive as ever if rather basic (as are the costumes). The trees come from Dunsinane Wood while shovels are at the ready to mark out the path then to help create Grandma’s house. And there are lots of delightful and crafty touches; when Red gets lost in the wood, she encounters lots of other nursery rhyme characters. And the audience participation bit, it has to be said (oh yes it does) is a howling success. Naturally, the children lapped up the more gory bits, but also appreciated the entertaining scene where Wolfie and his two sidekicks play games with Little Red. All of which is enhanced by song and dance and a cunning use of sound.
Luca Rutherford is lively and endearing as Little Red, part of the trio of remarkable women, along with her cunning, grumpy Grandma (Simone Lewis) and stern mother (Natalia Campbell). Then comes a role reversal for the last two as the dozy, dumb and dumber wolves under the command of Wolfie,Harvey Robinson. He by turn is suave and menacing but manages to be sympathetic as well; quite a feat.
An Action Transport production in association with LIPA, it’s as charming and enchanting as ever, for children of all ages. What’s the time, Mr Wolf? Time you took your family for a heartwarming night out.