Ofpants, the official panto watchdog, was waxing philosophical as we headed out into the night.
And yes, Gerard Kelly's name did come into his musings. "Traditions have to start somewhere," he declared, "and while Kelly's knees will always be remembered in the Panto Hall of Fame, it's good to see new faces bringing their own energies onstage ... But it's even better to see Karen Dunbar back in harness at the King's!"
Dunbar – Beauty's gallus Nanny – has the panto knack at her beck and call. She can time punchlines with an accuracy that makes so-so gags punch above their weight, she can deliver a mighty song, or find the comic juice in a pastiche ditty, and she does all this with a full-on involvement that recharges the batteries of a rather basic retelling of events.
Tony Roper: another name that cheered Ofpants no end. And another injection of seemingly effortless larking about, in the guise of a baddie who is soft-centred and fancies Nanny. Arron Usher: new to the King's, but well-versed in being the genial galoot, is everybody's best chum Jimmy Jingles. And new to panto, but clearly having a blast, is Clare Grogan as the slinkily villainous Carabosse, a bad fairy who probably had men – not necessarily of a "certain age" – hoping she'd make their wickedest wishes come true.
Ofpants, however, wondered if you could have too much of several such good things. Because with countless songs from just about everyone, dance routines, bouts of patter plus a plot, a bit of magic, and more songs, this stretches into an over-long show. But the assembled team definitely is a winner – maybe the start of traditions to come at the King's?
HHHH
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