Mom Goose (Theatre Royal, Brighton and touring)
Score: ****
The previous ham is implausible. Hair stuffed with rollers, a voice of rattling thunder, chunky pearls, and a bosom that might intrude with tides: Sir Ian McKellen is having an exquisite time.
He’s rightly again in panto, dressed like a Carry On secretary, with a face like an embalmed Mrs Slocombe.
There’s nothing like a basic Dame. Particularly one who’s an Oscar-nominated, bard-bothering knight of the realm.
McKellen romps round, dances, murders a track or too, and strips nearly bare (no McKellen efficiency is full with out it) earlier than plunging into an enchanted lake.
There’s nothing like a basic Dame. Particularly one who’s an Oscar-nominated, bard-bothering knight of the realm. Pictured: Ian McKellen
Comic John Bishop (left) performs McKellen’s (proper) husband Vic, a good flip that garners simply sufficient laughs
There’s a flash of thigh, a bed room scene and a joyous lip-pursing eyebrow elevate as a co-star asks if he ‘believes in fairies’. Mom Goose is a festive deal with that ticks all the fitting bins and it’s nobly touring the provinces via to April.
He’s the titular Mom (Caroline to pals) who hits the jackpot when an precise goose lands in her band of speaking animal strays and proceeds to plop a golden egg.
A wild chase of a plot ensues with an evil fairy, a shot at fame and a Goose King.
However what lingers within the thoughts is deliciously low cost innuendo and camp pop numbers. The present is written by Jonathan Harvey, who gave us Gimme Gimme Gimme, and directed by Cal McCrystal, who was comedy director of the Nationwide Theatre’s monster hit One Man, Two Guvnors.
So it’s suitably full of filthy jokes and solely sometimes drops the tempo.
There’s a really 2022 flavour. The point out of cake summons a pig known as Boris; there’s a donkey which ‘identifies’ as a llama; the plot hinges on sky-high vitality payments. And Mom Goose’s menagerie finds refuge within the abandoned shell of an inner-city Debenhams.
Comic John Bishop performs McKellen’s husband Vic, a good flip that garners simply sufficient laughs. The evening I went he fluffed a gag involving a male rooster hid of their quilt (give it some thought) however in any other case labored the group effectively.
The present is written by Jonathan Harvey, who gave us Gimme Gimme Gimme, and directed by Cal McCrystal, who was comedy director of the Nationwide Theatre’s monster hit One Man, Two Guvnors
Anna-Jane Casey, because the menopausal Goose, breaks into flushes in between every golden ovulation. She supplies a much-needed slice of West Finish pizzazz with a belting voice and the most effective faucet ft up there.
Genevieve Nicole, from the ensemble, is majestically hilarious as our new Queen Consort, grinding her tweedy behind towards Bishop and necking a household measure of gin and tonic as she totters off. A group of three is required to carry McKellen up from his low curtsy.
All pantomime components are accounted for: Random songs we are able to all sing alongside to; shouts from the group; CBBC methodology appearing; and an 83-year-old RSC educated Dame pelting a entrance row four-year-old with pretend eggs.
There was pleasure and confusion as adults heaved with laughter and a pre-schooler behind me requested his mom: ‘Is that this panto?’ Sure, little one. Behold!
For tour dates see mothergooseshow.co.uk
