"Hey!
Hey! We're the Twankies!" And as the trio of Widow T, Wishee Washee and Aladdin breezed into their swanky wee dance routine a theatre full of school parties shrieked with glee.
Clearly here were characters who could monkey around and then some – but best of all, at this morning showing, they (and writer/director Liam Rudden) were making sure the material hit all the appropriate spots for a young, fun-loving audience.
That's easier said than done. It means the Dame (Colin Carr) has to up the ante on the ridiculous and adjust the volume on the raunch that nods and winks when the grown-ups are in. It means Wishee Washee can't ever forget to shout: "Hiya pals!" or let his energy levels drop from Warp Nine to just ticking over.
Scott Hoatson, stepping into the eejit's trainers vacated by Arron Usher (now on numpty duty at Glasgow King's Theatre) never stops bouncing, or acting daft, so when he does have a bright idea that can save the day, all the kids are crazy ready to back him all the way.
Meanwhile Aladdin (Derek McGhie) and the Princess (Julie Heatherill) refrained from making a meal of the snoggy duets, but with the pace going at such a lick and Abanazar (Edward Cory) acting meaner by the minute, there was too much danger and mayhem, spooky bits and pastiche pop numbers on the cards for squishy romancing.
Ofpants, the official panto watchdog, was left breathless at the wonderfully accomplished speed and savvy larkiness of it all. Being young at heart, if nowhere else, Ofpants loves to hear children having a whing-ding time in the pantosphere: and Peking, Musselburgh is where it's at for that.
HHH
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