UK Theatre Network

“Pantomimes are not what they were.” “Pantomime is no longer what it used to be.” “Pantomime seems at present to hold its own, I don’t see how it can continue to do so.”

The above quotes might easily be mistaken for recent press cuttings, but in actual fact they date from 1831, 1846 and 1882 respectively. The truth of the matter is that traditional family pantomime does still exist and it is positively flourishing. All over the country good old panto continues to break box office records, despite the fact that we live in a world where children are surrounded by computer games, DVDs and the Internet.

Mother Goose, at The Pier Pavilion in South Shields, is everything that pantomime should be. It’s filled with larger than life colourful characters, corny gags, song and dance routines, slapstick and family fun.

Fairy Happiness (Carol Cooke) sets the scene and introduces the audience to the dysfunctional Goose family, Mother (Stephen Sullivan), Silly Billy (Craig Richardson) and Colin (Kylie Ford) who are down on their luck and behind with their rent.

Stephen Sullivan’s Dame is as effervescent as a bottle of shook-up champagne and if his performance is powered by batteries then they must surely be the extra-powerful ones with the copper-coloured tops. Craig Richardson is sensational in the role of the daft and dippy Billy and he works the audience with flair and expertise.

Mark Lamb is fantastically fiendish as the dastardly Demon King and his performance of I Wanna Be Evil, in red leather flares and black flowing leather coat, puts the entire audience firmly under his wicked spell. He is perfectly complimented by Ruth Burn’s cameo performance as The Wicked Queen of Gooseland.

The combination of a great script, by Jon Parker and Mark Fairweather, and dynamic direction from Gareth Hunter results in a production that entertains, amuses and charms young and old alike.

Throw in a troupe of dancers from The Carley School of Dance and a live band and you have a good old fashioned traditional panto that represents great value for money.

Performances

Friday 16^th January 2009 to Saturday 24^th January 2009

Evenings at 7.30pm

Matinees at 2.00pm (Sat & Sun)

Running Time

2 hours, 30 minutes (including interval)

Tickets

£6.50   Adult

£4.50   Child

(Telephone 0191 4546612 to book)

www.westovians.org