Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh 30 years since the first Customs House pantomime, doesn’t the time fly when you’re enjoying yourself?
Mother Goose is this year’s offering. Whish, a puff of smoke and we begin with Twyleth (Emma-Katie Adcock), the forest fairy, in magical costume (Naomi Daley and Kate Collins) and roller skates, setting the scene. She is joined by the resident baddie, demon Lord Gander (Steven Lee Hamilton), in an equally resplendent costume and wig.
The introduction of six main characters follows, ending with the climatic entrance of Dame Bella (Ray Spencer). I won’t share the story as I am sure most of you are familiar with it. The tale continues in true pantomime style: plenty of boos, ahh’s, oh no it isn’t, it’s behind you and the inevitable slop scene. Do not worry if sitting near the stage as there is no spraying of water this year. True to its tradition, there is a wide array of jokes for adults as well as the children, involving all the audience.
This may be called the little panto with the big heart, but the performances are anything but small: Spencer is his usual mischievous self, Townsend captures the children’s imagination getting them on board immediately, Hamilton as ever is the best baddie around oozing evil, Georgina Whale-Spencer as Priscilla the Goose delivers a human touch, all well supported by a convincingly strong cast.
The excellent choreography by stalwart Jacqui West is well performed, and musical numbers by another stalwart, Dave Bintley, are up to his usual high standards. What this ‘little panto’ lacks in multi-layered expensive sets, magic tricks and props, it has what most pantomimes don’t have: it is accessible to families without having to take a mortgage or a loan out. It still provides a great family night out.
It is probably because one gets used to quick change of scene with the swish of a cloth, the numerous blackouts do break some of the magic, and it is a shame more opportunities to use props are not in evidence, except a basket of leeks and a giant pair of scissors, which got a laugh—kids love props. While Adcock portrays the character well, spinning circles around the baddie literally, it is good to remember when using an accent, Welsh or otherwise, it is sensible to slow down delivery a little or one can lose some sense.
A solid show does not come without a lot of hard work, not just from the writers and directors but all of the crew involved, such as the less obvious, like production assistants (Bethan Amber Andrew Dawson), and they all need to be congratulated.
It is a cracking good production with a heart of gold, oh yes, it is! So don’t be a goose and get yourselves down to see it.