Billed as the Greatest Panto on Earth the Richmond theatre pantomime may be overselling itself, but it is certainly a very good-looking show with a strong cast and fast-paced comedy and variety acts, but is it a pantomime at all? Of course, it has the love story of the principal boy and principal girl, it has a larger-than-life Dame and a nasty villain who we love to boo and plenty of traditional pantomime business. In fact, it has a long history as a pantomime starting in 1853 at the Haymarket in London and the 1939 Oldham Coliseum production featured travelling showmen and acrobats which finally became the two rival circuses in the 1980s. Of course, the live bears of the 1950s are long gone, and this Richmond production is based on The Palladium spectacle of 2019, and it sits very well on the beautiful Richmond stage.
There may not be the space on the stage for the bigger stunts of the Palladium, but the show is well cast with plenty to catch the eye of both younger and older audience members. The animals are borrowed costumes from the Palladium with a giant Gorilla, dancing zebras, a pirouetting hippopotamus, giraffes, lions, a kangaroo, and an elephant reminding us of those days when circuses were full of animals in the last century. The variety acts are first class with an excellent juggler Gordon Marquez with a slick 3 and 5 clubs, balls and hats juggling act presented in a spectacular light show and Phil Hitchcock as Mysterioso, a wonderful sleight of hand magician with a lovely twist to the doves in a cage trick. Then Matt Baker, as Joey the clown, reminds us of his gymnastic background with unicycle, juggling and walking the tightrope to close Act 1. Indeed, he throws himself into every bit of business with great gusto and relish and creates a delightfully likeable character.
It helps that his two main partners in the comic business are seasoned professionals with the comic Phil Walker as Ringo having appeared in 20 Pantomimes and the Grand Dame Nigel Ellacott in his 48th season. That experience shows in the timing and delivery of their routines with Matt including a freshened-up mastermind routine, a new take on the music lip sync routine, and a reprisal of the Birmingham Hippodrome’s 2018 flag pun routine. Matt Slack’s influence as Director was clear in much of the comedy business. Walker’s comic delivery is well-paced with plenty of silly corny jokes. Ellacott brings an amazing stage presence, some gorgeous frocks (including one previously worn by the great Danny La Rue) and his own unique business. His engagement with a willing victim in the audience is handled superbly including a brilliant punchline in his trademark Dame’s strip and his fluttering eyelashes are used to great effect. He returned after the show for a fascinating interview with Simon Slater, Chair of the UK Pantomime Association, about his life in Pantomime with insights into how he learned his trade and some of the artists he had admired with the fascinating advice to Ugly Sisters in the iconic ticket tearing scene to” just stand still” to have the best effect. The interview is available to view on Home - The UK Pantomime Association. Ellacott, Walker and Baker are joined by Goldilocks, and Tamara Morgan for a staple of Crossroads shows, “if I was not upon the stage” which is delivered with well-rehearsed chaos and bags of energy.The three bears are almost just walk-on parts (waddle on with the large costumes) for Nova Skipp and James Paterson, but Lucy Conley (the great pantomime comic Brian Conley’s daughter) does get to be the star of the show in a 42nd Street tap routine. The main plot point is Countess Von Winklebottom’s (Jessica Martin) desire to capture the talking bears for her rival circus in a role that could have been expanded to draw more on her talents.
The show benefits hugely from the investment in the Palladium production with its excellent brightly coloured sets and integrated lights that perfectly capture the circus atmosphere and some wonderful costumes for the strong Ensemble of six.This may not be as familiar a title as the classic Pantomimes and has fewer iconic plot points to build a story around but in the hands of this fine cast with an emphasis on comedy and variety, it is an excellent entertaining show that is a perfect Christmas outing for all the family. Is it Pantomime? Oh yes, it is, and a very good one too.
Review by Nick Wayne
Rating: ★★★★
Seat: Circle, Row B | Price of Ticket: £42.50
