|
|
|
|
|
Sandra Marvin, left, Christopher Biggins, Faye Tozer, Matt Slack, Gok Wan, Matt Cardle and Andrew Ryan Pictures Paul Coltas Robin Hood Birmingham Hippodrome ***** So, we had the baddy, or The Sheriff of Nottingham to give him his posh title, and he captures Maid Marion and Robin Hood rescues her. That's the plot out of the way, so, let's get on with the panto. What this romp in Sherwood Forest lacks in storyline it makes up for in laughs, lots of them with sumptuous sets, a giant wolf's head with glowing eyes, an avalanche of confetti people will still be finding in bags, clothes and pockets in February, and enough pyrotechnics for a decent November 5 party - in short, simply fabulous festive fun . . . . oh yes it is! etc. Matt Slack in his 13th consecutive panto is in his element as the eponymous Robin. He is the crowd favourite and you can feel the buzz of anticipation as soon as he appears to cheers and laughs and this year, in a real landmark, for the first time in 13 attempts, he ends up with the girl, which could just have had something to do with him writing the script along with Harry Michaels. . . just saying. The girl in question in this case being Steps star Faye Tozer as Maid Marion bringing a little normality, glamour and a fine voice to proceedings.
Faye Tozer as Maid Marion Andrew Ryan adds more clamour than glamour as Henrietta Hood, Robin's mother, with a collection of costumes that make over the top look almost restrained,with frocks such as a giant owl or a patio and walled garden or a castle. . . M&S it ain't. Ryan is back in a frock with Matt Slack at the Hippodrome for a ninth time in what is his 35th panto. Mind you he is a mere upstart in the presence of panto royalty in the shape of Christopher Biggins in his 60th panto. Biggins, a son of my home town of Oldham, was already an established panto star when I used to take my sons as tots to see him in panto on Christmas visits to in-laws in Brighton years ago - and my sons are 46 now. Last night I saw him in panto once more . . . with my grandsons. Tempus fugit . . . Biggins gave us King Richard who returns from the war . . . returning several times in fact until he finally got it right, filling in as a nun and Friar Tuck among others to keep himself busy. And then there were Robin's merry men . . . or merry man in this case with Gok Wan as Gok Scarlet, Robin's right hand . . ., well, laugh really, he really was merry revelling and chuckling his way through Sherwood with a permanent air of infectious fun.
Gok Wan and Matt Slack Doing his best to maintain the true panto tradition of baddy came Matt Cardle as the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, who was fighting a losing battle more against the laughs and jokes than Robin, but his giant wolf was impressive until it lost out to Hood. Matt really put his heart and soul into this baddy lark. And if we had a baddy we had to have a goody as in Sandra Marvin as the bubbly Spirit of Sherwooyd who brought a beaming smile and flurry of fireworks with each entry Then as wolves, ghosts, merry men and women, peasants and anything else, we had the 10 strong ensemble who work their socks, or in this scenario, tights off, so a shout of recognition for Sophie Baker, Gustave Die, Nicholas Leon Jones, Megan Little, Ellie May-Wilson, Flyn Mullins, Jarryd Nurden, Callum Quinnen, Holly Skiggs and Taela Yeomans-Brown. In what was as much variety show as panto we also got The Acromaniacs, a group of international gymnasts who turn a trampette, box and crashmat into items of dangerous fun where precision and timing are paramount. Get those wrong and it is an A&E job. Although this is a panto light on plot (light doing a lot of heavy lifting here) that hardly matters, tradition is maintained with a long If I were not upon the stage a . . . whatever I would be with boxing gloves, frying pans and truncheon flying, mostly at Robin, and the audience treated to buckets of water (rows up to about M in centre stalls wear a mac . . . just saying). And we had some poor bloke, Aaron in this case, wishing he had bought seat just a little further back from the stage and not quite as central, as he was selected to be the night's running joke as Ryan's chosen one. Sets (Mark Walter) were magnificent aided by dramatic lighting (Rory Beaton) and fabulous costumes (Teresa Nalton, Ron Briggs and Mike Coltman) all directed and choreographed by Karen Bruce with music from an excellent eight piece orchestra under musical director Robert Willis. It was all good fun and when an audience shout and cheer and the laughs ring out loud and clear Robin Hood had done everything that it set out to do, made people happy and forget their troubles for a while and you can't put a price on that. And for young children in the audience, perhaps in a theatre for the first time, it might be the magic seed that could grow into a lifelong love of theatre, after all they are where the next generation of theatregoers will come from. Robin will be rescuing Marion to 01-02-26 . . . Oh yes he will! and (spoiler alert) there is a bloke who looks remarkably like Matt Slack in Sleeping Beauty which opens at the Hippodrome on 19-12-26. Roger Clarke 22-12-25
Matt Slack as Robin As seen by a teen ***** The Birmingham Hippodrome panto was
excellent as always. It was funny, entertaining and great for all the
family, but unlike other pantos which have all those, the Hippodrome
always has an excellent cast with the best staging I’ve seen in a panto All these factors contributing to my opinion that
the Birmingham Hippodrome is home to the best panto around. In terms of my favourites in the cast, I thought that Faye Tozer (Maid Marion)was excellent she was funny and very good at acting as well as slotting in well with the rest of the cast. Gok Wan (Gok Scarlet) brought the most positive energy I’ve ever seen at a panto. He had everyone (including the cast) in tears of laughter. I would definitely like to see him make another appearance, while Matt Slack (Robin Hood)in his 13th Hippodrome panto, was hilarious and amazing as always, so much so that it doesn’t really surprise anyone any more - they expect it. Overall I would recommend the Hippodrome panto to
anyone and everyone looking for an amazing night out that they will
remember forever. Hallam Clarke 22-12-25 |
|
|
|
,%20Matt%20Slack%20(R)%20-%20Photo%20Credit%20Paul%20Coltas.jpg)
