This year, I have had the privilege to see five different Christmas pantomimes. Jack and the Beanstalk twice at Cast Doncaster, two amateur productions of Cinderella, and Alice in Wonderland.

The magic of pantomime – charming princes, a bit of banter, slap-stick comedy, running jokes, musical singalongs, wonderful costumes, bright and cheerful encounters, happy endings and living happily ever afters, what is not to love?

Jack and the Beanstalk:

I went on Tuesday 3rd December to see Jack and the Beanstalk with my grandma, and again with my close friend Robyn on Saturday 21st December. It was fantastic! Written by Neil Hurst and directed by Tess Seddon.

The ‘baddie’ this year was the sensational Robyn McIntyre as Countess Freshcreep. Such a sinister character with a very high pitched wail of a voice and a cruel cackle. My other favourite character was Silly Billy, played by Harry Gascoigne. I can remember him from last year’s panto. He was so energetic and had such an uplifting stage presence, encouraging the kids in the audience to shout ‘Don’t be silly, Billy’.

Ben Eagle as the Dame was brilliant too. He admitted in an interview that “the joy of playing a dame is that you get to flirt with the men!” Because his demeanor is so typically butch and blokey, it was very comical seeing him frolic around the stage in drag. It just works. He had plentiful ridiculous costume changes such as becoming a burger, a baked bean, a jelly bean and a runner bean!

Daisy the cow was so cute and “udderly over the moon” to be in this year’s production.

Joe Parker played a great Jack Trott, very expressive on stage, however I felt that his singing voice was not as professional as some of the others in my opinion, he kind of shouted a bit, which was a shame

Born and bred Sheffield lass Becca Lee-Isaacs was amazing as Jill, as was Misha Malcolm as Mother Nature, both had a very soothing, kind presence… I would say, actually, that all the other ensemble were marvellous too, the dancers and tap dancers in the junior ensemble

Something which really struck me this year was how wonderful the stage/props were. The way the Beanstalk grew from the well, towering upwards and spiralling sideways, was a truly magical sight. And the giant! WOW! I have never seen anything like it. He was ginormous, completely dominating the stage. I don’t know how they did it, making him animated.

It was funny how the goose laid a golden egg, water being sprayed into the audience with water pistols, cream pies in faces. It was hilarious hearing Silly Billy and Dame Trott attempting, and succeeding, an elaborate tongue twister, and Countess Fleshcreep’s cockroaches (esemble) creeping around behind the cast “They’re behind you!” Audience participation and children getting up on stage at the end of the show, personalising their own version of E.I.E.I.O. “Which side can sing the loudest?”

Very festive, and very fabulous 👌

Cinderella (Little Theatre):

Although Cinderella at Doncaster Little Theatre was only an amateur production, it was still rather pleasant. I went on Thursday 12th December with my friends Matty, Lynne, Joanne, Robyn, Chris and my boyfriend Aaron.

Cinderella, played by Kayleigh Harding was very elegant and demure, Buttons (Josh Dunphy) convincingly madly in love with her. The two young lads Benjamin Harding and Cole Blakely playing the Prince and Dandini were refreshing and vibrant and interchanged their roles perfectly.

Fairy G aka fairy godmother (Rhiannon Clark) played her part quite well, as did Baron Hardup (Malcolm Coy), and the Baroness (Chris Bolus), all contributing to an enjoyable pantomime experience.

The true stars of the show were however, in my opinion, Grizelda and Gertrude (Phil Towe and Alan Clark), the ugly sisters! They were highly amusing picking on a poor man in the audience, and kept teasing him! I think it’s fun for us in the audience when the cast members improvise – it adds another element to the performance, makes it more personable. Always good, a bit of banter.

As I say, a much smaller production but still good festive fun, with all the usual pantomime shenanigans…

“Oh, yes it was!”

“Oh, no it wasn’t!”

“Oh, yes it was!”

Alice in Wonderland:

My favourite pantomime to see this year was the Hatfield Woodhouse Phoenix Theatre Group production of Alice in Wonderland. I went on Thursday 2nd January with my best friend Robyn and her mum and dad, and my other best friend, Lou. I was anticipating this would be a good one, as I immensely enjoyed their Wizard of Oz last year.

They did rather well converting a classic children’s story into a pantomime for all ages (although it must be said, Carrol’s creation has been interpreted by many as adult themed).

The director of this year’s pantomime (Tina Bradbury) insisted to find a script, however challenging as it may be, not so traditional, but rather a funny, interesting and unusual one – surpassing expectations while keeping the panto magic alive.  She made a few tweaks, to up the entertainment and keep everyone laughing, however, all of Carrol’s characters we know and love made appearances. Such as, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter and the March Hare, Caterpillar etc

In this production, Wonderland is in grave danger. A wicked man, the Knave of Spades (Neil Scanlon) is hell bent on taking control of all Wonderland, and all the world! The Wizard of Muddleup Wood (Ian Weeks) can save this awful fate by means of a magical golden heart

In a world where the White Rabbit’s (Andy Green) large pocket watch can interrupt and alter time, Tweedledum and Tweedledee (Kev Bluck and Chris Bradbury) are hypnotised, the Queen of Hearts (Sue Lane) summons her strict Sargent (Ann Littlefield) to “off with their heads”, her subdued husband (Steve Mullen – King of Hearts) silently obeying her every command, where a lazy Caterpillar (Helen Bluck) smokes pipes and a bunch of high hippies wander in the woods trying to find Glastonbury, a Cheshire Cat (Kate Green) saunters mischievously, and Mad Hatter (Helen Green) and March Hare (Becky Bluck) host very very very very happy unbirthdays!

Helen Green was absolutely marvellous as the Mad Hatter, with all the quirks and idiosyncrasies. The White Rabbit made me really laugh as well, he was so much in character trembling about “I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date!”. The Prince of Diamonds (Grace Stevenson) and Princess Ruby of Hearts (Chloe Allen) did a great job. Alice (Jess Turner) although she admittedly did not shrink or grow in size (which would be pretty much impossible) her performance was most impressive and she had a lovely singing voice.

Her mother in the production was Dame Milly (Matt Allen), who, as all dames do, had an ongoing joke and flirt with the male audience members. Wally the Joker (Ernie Tonge) was a return cast member from last year, playing the joker then too I believe. Every time on stage he would say: “I say, I say,  I say” followed by a corny joke. But it’s a pantomime, what’s not to love?! Cheer the goodies, boo the baddies!

All the cast, and all the chorus, did magnificently well. I particularly liked the Green Haggis, i.e. a little girl dressed as a cheeky haggis monster, scaring those on stage! “It’s behind you!”

The props and staging were again top-notch. My most favourite part was when they turned the lights off and beautiful fluorescent butterflies fluttered around the stage. It was truly visually and aesthetically stunning

Cinderella (Armthorpe Community Centre):

The final pantomine I had the pleasure of seeing this year was Cinderella at Armthorpe Community Centre, on Saturday 4th January for Robyn’s birthday! It was a great privilege as our friend Sandy played the fairy godmother. She was sensational!

This pantomime was pretty traditional, with a few surprises.

The ugly sisters, Gertrude (Emily O’Shea) and Grizelda (Lynne Piper) were uncharacteristically played by two women, not men in drag. They were hilarious. Emily (Gertrude) reminded me very much of Rebel Wilson, both in her looks and mannerisms (I bet she’s heard that one before!). The male victim in this panto was poor Ryan, who was the blunt of all Grizelda’s jokes.

I felt sorry for Rubella Hardup (Kirsty Stewart) as she forgot one of her lines, but picked it back up perfectly. Her husband Baron Hardup (Graham Newton) played another submissive role to a matriarchal domineering wife.

Buttons (Colm O’Conner) was very confident and charismatic, slick and smooth. Whenever anyone went near his childhood teddy, Bob the Bear, the audience members were encouraged to shout “Buttons! Bob the bear is being bothered!” Cinderella (Gemma Christina) played a lovely part, as did Dandini (Courtney Holdridge), but I was absolutely blown away by Chloe White who played Prince Charming. Her voice was outstanding and angelic and she definitely belongs in the West End.

Two characters adapted in were Bodget (Colin Head) and Leggett (Andy Barrington) as two comical demolition workers, knocking plastic hammers on heads instead of nails. Most hilarious however was the pantomime horse, which as we know, is two actors partnered in a single costume to theatrically represent a real horse, front and back! It was so funny seeing them try to get on and off the stage!

I know we are biased, but Sandy was a delight as Fairy G, sophisticated, graceful, so very pretty and sparkly

Something I loved about this pantomime was all the children were invited onto the stage at the end to sing and dance to Music Man “I am the music man, I come from far away, and I can play…” etc. A lovely gesture.

Helen Evans (the director/producer) did a terrific job!

Overall, I have had a wonderful festive time at this year’s pantomimes. The Easter panto at Cast is Pinocchio in April, to which I have already obtained tickets and Peter Pan is on at Doncaster Little Theatre in July…so watch this space!

Thank you as ever for reading/viewing. I much appreciate your support.

Lots of love, Lauren xx

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