Cinderella lvlusselburgh: Brunton Theatre, until Sat 9 Jan w
Plticky Cinderella must overcome her Wicked Witch stepmother, horrid step- sisters and lots of innuendo to find the beau who bewrtched her heart in the
woods. After Cinders' slipper action at
the ball, the Witch reveals her true colours and is denied by her daughter to become imprisoned in an oak.
magic and adventure 4 slapstick and knockabout '3 jokes and japes 5 love and romance 4 smut and innuendo 4’. bt odes ant: bounders 4
:elebs and soap stars -- No, not that Richard Bacon)
top tunes 5 singalongs 5 sweetie showers ~’ glitz, glamOur and pizazz 5
An almost perfect panto Although there's no glitz, the costumes and sets are big, bold and Ci)i()l.‘iiU| The singing is great, altiiz'iurjn there's too much, and the audience participation is full of oomph (Penny Anderson)
|l Bellissimo Silenzio Edinburgh: Theatre Workshop, until Thu 24 Dec
'sabella's family is squabbling as usual when the Harlequin arrives to cast his spell To save her twm brothers from an eternity in Hell, she must not speak for seven years Despite many adventures and tribulations including the murder of her child by her princely husband's jealous mother she keeps her
tirrxnzse anti justice is (lone
O‘EKIK' and (i’l‘.{7i"'tl.‘f€' 3 sunset i. and #:r‘rx kabout 2 «es ant: lanes 1
ar‘r: "inflame ? Smut and innuendo — baddies and DOLinderS 4 celebs and soap stars — too tunes 4 singalongs — sweetie showers 3, glitz, glamour and pizazz 3
DOUGLAS ROBERTSON
; Writer/director Robert Rae’s exploration
of panto's dark, Italian roots in commedi'a de//’arte is strong on leSIC and song and nicely deSigned, but clumsy staging sometimes impairs the clarity of a complex plot. (Andrew Burnet)
Bring Back Christmas
Edinburgh: Netherbow Arts Centre,
until Tue 22 Dec a Petulant Holly, prickly about her
neglectful parents and her birthday falling on Christmas Day, accidentally Wishes the festiVities out of existence Her uncle, a deranged inventor, sends her on a time-travelling trip which reveals the Origins of Christmas traditions and helps her rediscover the joys of a bulging stocking
magic and adventure '3 slapstick and knockabout ?
jokes and japes 2 love and romance - smut and innuendo —
baddies and bounders 1 celebs and soap stars -~ top tunes 2 singalongs
sweetie showers — glitz, glamour and pizazz 2
Nick DaVies’s script is a lively introduction to the history of the celebrations, and includes a startling revelation about Santa’s red livery. Chris Craig’s production is inventive
With limited resources, creating a
cheap ’n' cheery but likeable show for pre-teens, (Andrew Burnet)
The performance of this show at 2.30pm on Fri 78 Dec is a benefit for the homeless charity Shelter
The Snow Queen
Royal Lyceum Theatre, until Sat 9 Jan 552' set“ at? "t: 1%
In her eVil mission to make winter last
forever, the Snow Queen freezes Kay’s heart and snatches him away to her ice
’ palace. Kay‘s friend Gerda sets off in
pursurt thr0ugh the wild wood,
befriending an assortment of oddities —‘
royal, criminal, animal and magical — as the world slowly freezes over
magic and adventure 5 slapstick and knockabout "4 jokes and japes 3
Christmas shows review THEATRE
love and romance — smut and innuendo -
baddies and bounders celebs and soap stars ~ top tunes (4) singalongs — sweetie showers — glitz, glamour and pizazz 15‘
Cast aSide all seasonal cynicism and abandon yourself to some sheer Christmas exhilaratiOn. Your reward: a show that shimmers With magic, explodes With colour and rolls in innocent fun. (Sarah Rutherford)
Aladdin
Edinburgh: King's Theatre, until Sun 17 Mneeee
Principal boy Aladdin (a very leggy Briony lvlcRoberts) and his daft brother Wishee Washee (Gerard Kelly) are set on the trail of the magic lamp by eVil Uncle Abanazer. Aladdin gains the upper hand when he releases the genie, gaining fabulous riches and a click with the local princess. But Abanazer is never far behind With another cunning plan
magic and adventure 4 slapstick and knockabout 5 jokes and japes ~‘ love and romance (bleugh') 3
smut and innuendo baddies and bOunders celebs and soap stars top tunes 3
(point deducted for Michael Jackson) singalor‘igs ~' sweetie showers 5 glitz, glamour and pizazz
T‘2e original Scf‘ttlSil panto, WIN)
cl‘eesy puns, sassy dancers and j colloquial chaos in all the right places, Allan Stewart steals the Show With a Widow Twankey just the right side of subtle For panto that is (Ellie Carr)
Snow White
Paisley Arts Centre, until Thu 31 Dec
sir ‘=.-> X:
EVII Queen Cleopatra impriSOns Princess Annalise inSide a magic mirror, which later reveals that new- girI-in-town Snow White is the fairest ar0und — a fatal compliment Luckily,
Lessons in love: Gail Watson in Beauty And The Beast
some helpful little forest chaps hide her until would-be rockstar Sam and his pal the Prince can save both damsels in distress.
magic and adventure slapstick and knockabout jokes and japes
love and romance
smut and innuendo baddies and bounders celebs and soap stars top tunes
singalongs
sweetie showers
glitz, glamour and pizazz
8' ©@@@
@©@@'
More disco than Disney, panto meets Grease in this lively production with some great gimmicks. The chorus of youngsters are as enthusiastic and well drilled as the principals are friendly and funny. (Andrea Mullaney)
Beauty And The Beast
Stirling: MacRobert Arts Centre, until Thu31 Dec meek
Wicked witch Crackjaw escapes from under the earth and turns young Martin into the Beast, just as he has met Beauty. lf Crackjaw can break his heart she Will have enough magic to turn every child (that means you) into a beastl Will Beauty leave her father and learn to love the Beast of her own free Will?
magic and adventure
slapstick and knockabout C3) jokes and japes love and romance (3) smut and innuendo - baddies and bounders 4 celebs and soap stars — top tunes 6) singalongs — sweetie showers - glitz, glamour and pizazz '3)
An excellent shot at a Paterson Christmas show — just don’t call it panto! Crackjaw is frighteningly mallClOUS, the ugly sisters cackle splendidly, Billy the dog is a lovable mutt and Beauty is not overbearingly nice, (Penny Anderson)
DOUGlAS ROBERTSON
17 Dec 1998—7 Jan 1999 THE LIST 83