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ch ristmas shows review
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You will believe a Pan can fly: Stuart Wilkinson hangs out with Caroline Devlin and
Jennifer Black. Peter Pan, Royal Lyceum Theatre. Edinburgh
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Mother Goose
Glasgow: Kings Theatre, until Sat 22 Jan *‘k‘k it:
Mother Goose, troubled by her nasty landlord, needs some money The Good Fairy provides her with the Goose that lays the golden egg, which solves her problem, until she trades the Goose with the Wicked Witch in return for youth and beauty
magic and adventure 13) slapstick and knockabout jokes and japes 8; love and romance 3; smut and innuendo — baddies and bounders @ celebs and soap stars '3 top tunes @ singalongs CD sweetie showers Q" glitz, glamour and pizazz C5"
The best looking panto in town has all the big names (Gerard Kelly, Barbara Rafferty, Ford Keirnan and Greg Hemphill) but the costumes and sets are what gets this show noticed. It’s a veritable Christmas feast for the eyes. The script itself contains lots and lots of alliteration, but falls short on straightforward jokery. Nevertheless, good performances all round. Three hours of good clean fun that’s definitely worth a gander. (Davie Archibald)
Mother Goose
Paisley Arts Centre, until Fri 24 Dec
*ii* In hrs twelfth season as panto dame,
writer/director David Wallace — here playing the title role — delivers a fun- filled show with all the winning
62 THE lIST 16 Dec l999~6 Jan 2000
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trouble reta:r‘rrng the Goose that laid the golden egg, and needs some help from her friends.
magic and adventure @ slapstick and knockabout C3) jokes and japes (52 love and romance @ smut and rnrruendo - baddies and bounders 3 celebs and soap stars — top tunes (9 Sirrgalorigs @ sweetie showers @ glitz, glamour and pizazz @
The script rs both wrtty and original, the vallarness surtably loathsome and the musical numbers catchrer than the COi'lllilOll cold. 'lhere are strong vocal performances from the young lovers, Maria and Antonio, played by Sharon Felhei'g and Dav'd Sneddons, and the absence of C-lrst celebs allows the real stars of the show ~ the talented all- srngrng, all-dancmg kids at Pace Youth Theatre - their chance to shine in the many rnusical interludes. (Catherine BrOInley)
The Magical Adventures Of Peter Pan
Glasgow: Pavilion Theatre, until Sat 22 Mnkkfin
Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up, whisks Wendy and her brother John away to a land of pirates, lost boys and adventure. Should Wendy return to the grownup world, or stay with Peter and friends?
magic and adventure slapstick and knockabout jokes and japes
love and romance -
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smut and innuendo baddies and bounders celebs and soap stars top tunes
singalongs
sweetie showers — glitz, glamour and pizazz (E
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’How many mair years ahma gonnae get away wi this?’ asks Jeanette Krankie. And she’s not the only one. But here she’s perfectly cast as the boy who never grows up and more than justifies the Krankres return to The Pavilion. The show is technically stilted and a bit short on song, but The Worst Jokes In The World — Ever are magically transformed into a highly frivolous evening. Rude and raucous, it has adults and kids laughing alike. (Davie Archibald)
The Singing Kettle's Millennium Christmas Party
Glasgow: Royal Concert Hall, until Thu 30 Dec * it t at
The Kettlers sussed out long ago that plotlrnes and narrative come way down on the list of kids’ priorities, and instead offer up a festive package of recognisable songs and cuddly costumes. Aided by larger than life magician Marvo, they whip the youngsters into a hokey cokey frenzy in no time at all.
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
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The first half flies past in a haxe of giddy excitement and audient e participation, but 90 minutes later the Kettle has gone off the borl sornesrhat What should have been one hour or' fun runs into two hours of self‘ indulgent singing and bizarre rriessgigis about the Millennium being tune for a fresh start’ (at that age”). Still, they stalwarts of children's errtert tint: rt hit the spot enough trrnes to W . :2 their hero status. (Kelly Apterl
The Happy Gang's Cracking Christmas
Glasgow: SECC, Fri 17' Sun 19 Dec, then touring *‘k‘k‘fir
The eminently likeable Spatk, l.’.r l‘ ar rcl Nicky have won tickets to rim-t Sarita on Christmas Eve, but Bail Bali the Burgler puts paid to their l- run when he makes off wrth tl.i- alarms tickets and presents. A (ll it v. 21...: n
the dastardly fellow and in r jrwt l
Popgus (geddrt?), ensUiz. (illI.-i inn. In singing and iOllliOC)ir'l‘,
Magic and adventure .3 Slapstick and knocl .il war! 3 Jokes and japes 3
Love and romance Smut and innuendo - Baddies and bOtrrrdc-rs
Celebs and soap stars ~ Top tunes ’4; singalongs sweetie showers 'L' glitz, glamour and pizazz "9
Younger ones rnav find the plot a tad hard to follow and, unless you've got the Gang's Christmas CD on constant rotation, then singing along rs not really an option. The trio have such a. loyal following howeter, that just seeing them on stage is git: w 2?. for most. (Kelly Apterr
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Man goosed in Mother Goose. Greg Hemphill gets to know Ford Kiernan.
Mother Goose, King‘s Theatre, Glasgow