Pantoland at The Palladium
Directed and produced by Michael Harrison
At The London Palladium 4 December to 9 January 2022
“A spectacular festive treat for the grown ups”
When we first came out of lockdown in 2020 Michael Harrison wisely decided to stage a relatively Covid-safe ‘pantomime’ that was more variety show to allow the various cast members to stay separated and thus less likely to infect each other.
So, when after just a few days theatres were once again shut down the whole show was put on ice. As this year we are still fighting the pandemic it was decided, quite sensibly, to follow the same format. While most of the cast members were still available some had to be replaced and the show re-jigged slightly.
What we have then is a modern casting of what the old Sunday Night at The Palladium would look like.
The cast is headed up by the inimitable Julian Clary, now a past master of the pantomime tradition of double entendres taken to the nth degree. Now that Palladium tradition has morphed into very much a show for grown-ups Clary has driven closer and closer to the fine line. Remember Norman Lamont? It is veering that close!
Making his pantomime debut is ex-teen heartthrob Donny Osmond. His initial appearance through the velvet curtains prompted a hundred Tena Ladies to moisten as in days of old. Donny of course was the butt of many a joke from both Julian Clary and Paul Zerdin’s puppet Sam, thus taking some of the heat off returning ‘spare part’ Nigel Havers. Havers has beefed his part up by rummaging in the costume store and walking on with random outfits at inappropriate times to great laughs.
Playing the parts of the young lovers (there are always young lovers in pantomimes) were Jac Yarrow and Sophie Isaacs who, despite singing and dancing their little hearts out, were given no kudos by Julian who sent them up at every occasion.
Paul Zerdin and his puppet Sam also insulted everyone within striking distance, including those unfortunate enough to be in the front row.
Playing the traditional dame once again is Gary Wilmot, giving us his Underground Stations song to great applause.
The cast was rounded off by the latest incarnation of the Tiller Girls, first formed in 1864 and still going strong. Obviously not with the same line-up!
As is to be expected in a Palladium panto the theatre’s full compliment of tricks are at their disposal and the first half closed, for no logical reason, with Jac Yarrow cosied up between Julian Clary’s legs on a flying carpet. To be honest a bit meh for those of us who have seen Disney’s Aladdin. Then it flew out over the orchestra pit and turned upside down!
This spectacular show runs til 9 January 2022 and is worth seeing purely for Julian’s costumes!
The London Palladium - https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/
http://ptheatre.blogspot.co.uk/
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