Pantomime

Miracle on 34 Parnie Street

Tron, Glasgow

Mary Brennan

FOUR STARS

??I believe! I believe! I believe!?? The audience is witnessing, like a hot gospel chorus, to the existence of Santa Claus. They??re actually affirming their faith in Johnny McKnight to deliver a panto where old traditions are buffed up with a post-modern polish and his Dame makes us all happy camp-followers. His latest Dame is Kristina Cagney Kringle: the rear that stretches sequins to popping-off point is Kardashian-inspired. Dance moves? A strutting, shimmying, hi-energy mix of Beyonce and Miley Cyrus. The pneumatic Kringle curves are sheathed in a Santa costume that references Mariah Carey??s mini-tunic in the ??All I Want for Christmas?? video.

If these are a few of McKnight??s favourite things, so too is the 1947 Hollywood film, Miracle on 34th Street, in which a court has to decide if Santa Claus (aka Kris Kringle) really does exist. Relocated to 34 Parnie Street, glamorously frocked by Kenny Miller and with musical numbers that go from Motown to A Chorus Line by way of Michelle Chantelle Hopewell??s rockin?? soul-sister anthems, the tale is now a cheeky, cheery and sometimes cheesy salute to Glasgow, and to panto itself. McKnight, in writer/director mode, asks a lot from his cast: they give it glitter-encrusted wellie at every turn ?? and most of them do double turns. Julie Wilson Nimmo is three times a lady, including the uptight Doris who insists her wee boy Snoozy is as hard-bitten as herself. Maybe we do agree (for once) with Darren Brownlie??s slithery-smooth baddie Bellhammer when he says the court scene goes on too long ?? but the McKnight and Miller motto ??more is alway more, less is never enough?? keeps us hooked. Believe it!