4.5 STARS, December1 15 – January 14. Paddington may be making a splash at the box office but if it's live theatre that kickstarts your festive celebrations Amanda Hodges relishes a terrific panto in darkest Wimbledon
CRAIG SUGDEN
Finding the right panto dame is almost an art form and a panto will often sink or swim on the calibre of who it casts in such a pivotal role. Luckily the New Wimbledon - which has an impeccable pedigree in producing top-notch pantomimes- has triumphed again with musical theatre star Clive Rowe rising (or should that be expanding, since his outfits get broader by the scene) to the challenge of Dame Daisy Trot with aplomb. He’s great fun as the romantically challenged Trot and works really well opposite Al Murray’s effervescent Barman Al, an affectionate spoof of his best-known creation The Pub Landlord.
Murray is loud and good-natured, the ideal panto host in many ways. There’s a terrific gag revolving around his ex-girlfriend which uses only the name of various drinks to tell the tale and he has enormous fun emphasising the importance of family (or ‘fam’lee as he calls it, Eastenders style) and friendship at Christmas, roping in unwary audience members to help make his point. The two-hander in which he and Rowe have a conversation entirely conducted in famous song lyrics is priceless and highly entertaining.
CRAIG SUGDEN
The familiar tale of Jack and his heroic quest to save his lady love from the evil clutches of the cannibalistic Giant and his henchman Fleshcreep ( a superb John Jack) is given a fresh spin by the sheer quality of the ensemble and the way the Giant’s castle is recreated through 3D is enormous fun and genuinely creepy! The special effects (beanstalk and helicopter) are first-rate too and there’s plenty of variety of tone and pace to keep everyone amused. Yes there are the usual bland bits with Jack and his Princess in peril but even the kids here are really endearing, dressed as baby sheep or pigs and who could resist a very beguiling panto cow? It would have to be Scrooge himself who didn’t find lashings of festive cheer in what is definitely one of the best pantos in the area, if not in London too!
Check out our Theatre/Arts Section for more great local theatre news, reviews and interviews
You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates on all our latest articles
Sign up to our Weekly Newsletter for exclusive competitions, offers and stories
Looking to advertise your business in Surrey or SW London? Check out our 11 different lifestyle magazines with a combined monthly distribution of over 210,000 AB1 homes
