There is no substitute in Pantomime for a great script and a cast who work as an Ensemble to deliver a good show. Reading Hexagon is lucky to have Justin Fletcher and Paul Morse in their ninth season together with Ryan Alexander Full and Rachel Delooze returning for a second successive year at the venue. Following their success together in Beauty and the Beast last year Justin Fletcher again writes the script for the show and together with director Steve Boden, cleverly refreshes many of the traditional pantomime business to create a practically perfect pantomime for the young Berkshire audiences. The result is a show with a well-judged two-hour running time that engages the audience and keeps the young children from babes in arms upwards entertained throughout that time, demonstrating that Fletcher knows how to connect with his young audiences.
Justin Fletcher as Gil, the brother of Jack, has a commanding effortless stage presence and after an amusing entrance in a Dodgem car (for no obvious reason except he had one in stock) as usual reminds his fans of his alter egos from TV and touring shows and then settles into his routines. Most are delivered with his “partner in crime” the brilliant Paul Morse as Dame Trot (this year) who has an equally strong stage presence with a booming voice, fluttering eyelids and a knowing cheeky grin. They give us a slosh scene routine with plenty of thick gooey white slosh and a magnificent large syringe (a demonstration of the art that many other performers should watch), a refreshed tongue twister “Susie sits in a shoeshine shop” about sold-out sausages (showing the slightest updates give a routine a freshness), the “Chapel Bells” routine (with a twist in the end), a perfectly executed milking scene (with an amusing stage hand gag) and a traditional ghost bench scene with creepy crawlies. Each slightly tweaked the tradition satisfying both first-time audience members and regulars equally. It is shame they did not tweak the “12 days of Christmas” and “a bra that was made to hold three” routine which still works but needs a refresh relevant to the pantomime title. They even cleverly referenced the success of their wonderful “Balloon Ballet” in the last two years which had the audience begging for a reprise to be met with their refusal to good comic effect. It is wonderful to see these two masters of the comic pantomime business delivering these routines.
The Musical direction and arrangements under Miles Russell were another stand-out feature of the show with a cast who could all sing well enough to put over the tunes. The absolute highlight was a very clever interpretation of “I know him so well “ from the musical Chess sung initially by Jack (Carl Tracey) and the Princess (Katsie Fong Frydenberg) until Gil walks on and farts and the song takes another deliciously funny direction. But we also had “Brand new day”, “That’s alright mama”, “Build me up Buttercup”, “Hit the road Jack”, “I need a hero” and “Shut up and dance with me” spanning over sixty years of music. Each song was accompanied by some excellent choreography by Adrian Edmeades and an Ensemble of four and a Junior Ensemble fully integrated into the storytelling with Fletcher often generously taking a back seat role rather than being centre stage.The returning artists Ryan Alexander Full as Walter Botemme and Rachel Delooze as Fairy Bluebell perfectly fitted their characters as the evil and good influences although Walter’s entrances down a stage left chute happened too quickly to fully appreciate the moment! They both engaged really well with the audience and as always it is a delight to hear young audiences responding to the call and return shout-outs right from the start without any encouragement at all! Collen Daley added excellent support as Queen of Merrydale with plenty of energy and reactions including in the “Chapel Bells” routine. What’s more, we heard every word of each performer even when the chaos on stage was at its height.
Just to add to the magic of pantomime there was a wonderful-looking cow, a magnificent lumbering tall Giant, a beautifully sparkling harp and a very well-done U/V beanstalk growing sequence. All that was missing was a traditional song sheet with kids on stage which has still to make its return post covid.If you have not booked for pantomime this year, or have never taken your young family to see one before this is the show to start them off on. Virtually no adult innuendo, loveable characters, plenty of silly jokes, lively and recognisable music, full of pantomime traditional business and at the centre in Justin Fletcher and Paul Morse, two masters of the genre who know what it takes to entertain the young family audiences each year.
Review by Nick Wayne
Rating: ★★★★
Seat: Row E | Price of Ticket: £29
