Photography by Madeline Sandon
It’s panto season and I just love it. Move over kids, this about me, all me. What do you mean, ‘Oh no it isn’t’? Oh yes it is, and how very dare you?
Last year I saw Elgiva’s Aladdin with my very excited grandkids. The six-year old looked into my eyes and told me that it was the best thing he’d seen in his whole life. I felt the same, although my whole life takes a bit more remembering these days.
`This year is Jack And The Beanstalk and me and the kids (or some may say we three kids) have been counting the days – and we were not disappointed.
Elgiva always attracts well-known and highly-talented actors, who I suspect take part for sheer love, or certainly that’s the impression they give as they tease each other and the audience with an enthusiasm which can’t possibly be scripted. Besides some very welcome familiar faces, including Frost Magazine’s very own Drama Critic and professional actor, Paul Vates, who plays Tilly Trott with much hilarity (I was struggling not to fall off my seat at times), and Carl Johns who is a side-splitting Silly Simon, the stars include Drag Race UK’s Scarlett as Fairy Peapod and Gemma Brodrick from Blood Brothers as Witch Blackweed.
The Elgiva Theatre is a very cosy and personal experience. One never feels far from the actors, who waste no time drawing in the audience and imparting extremely funny and lightning-fast roasts on anyone foolish enough to stand out.
As always the performance was professional yet relaxed and fun. Silly Simon had kids and adults alike waving their hands in the air and singing, with an enthusiastic shout of ‘Six Seven’ to finish each refrain (and there were many). Tilly Trott paraded numerous eye-catching outfits, including a complete beehive, and her cow-milking dress was inspired. Talking of which I absolutely loved the cow (Alexander J Smith) – dancing, singing and speaking volumes with his facial expressions – all of them were just too funny.
The Elgiva panto would not be complete without the Twelve Days Of Christmas – I won’t spoil the surprise but let’s just say I’ve never seen a room full of kids, and adults having quite so much fun with five toilet rolls.
Jack and the Beanstalk has two performances daily until 31st December so do grab your tickets – you will NOT want to miss this. With tickets priced from £27/£23 for peak performances to as little as £23.50/£19.50 for adults/kids, plus there’s an over 60s concession, the excellent value really belies the incredible quality of this panto. Oh yes it does.
Photography by Madeline Sandon
By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q
http://faitobooks.co.uk
[slide 3 my book]
Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.