Panto’s have now finally come to an end for Christmas.
But before they did, I decided to go to London to see the panto that everyone had been talking about. I am in awe, and still can’t believe what I watched last weekend.
It was one of the best pantos I have seen in the fifty years of my career. The multi-million-pound production of Robin Hood, at the London Palladium starring our very own talented, warm, fabulous Jane McDonald and panto royalty, Julian Clary.
Add to these two national treasures, a star-studded line-up. Paul Zerdin, is superb at his craft.
Nigel Havers, who is coming to the Everyman with his one-man show and Marisha Wallace, who will be appearing in Cabaret from January 28. The list is endless.
I sat in the Royal Circle of this iconic theatre and took a moment to remember when the late great Joe Longthorne, MBE, invited me to support him at his birthday concert on the very stage where I was about to witness Robin Hood come to life.
Also, thinking of my childhood watching Sunday Night at the Palladium, that iconic show that created stars. Freddie Starr was actually working at the Shakespeare Theatre Club the week he did the Royal Command Performance.
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I went with him and sat in the presence of the late Queen Mother. No one in that theatre knew who he was, but they certainly did at the end of his performance, when he received a standing ovation.
So many memories.
Back to Robin Hood.
The orchestra plays the overture as the show begins to start, and the audience is excited. The most bizarre story unfolds in front of us, along with Nigel Havers hanging on wires from the ceiling.
Why? Nobody knows.
Robin Hood appears on stage, played by Julian Clary in the most outrageous costume, as you can imagine all of them are. OTT but fabulous.
Julian opens with ten minutes of adult comedy, and the kids have to explain to the parents what he is talking about. I just belly-laughed all the way through at his double entendres.
His delivery is superb. Jane McDonald makes her entrance and brings the house down singing The Hand That Leads Me.
The audience was spellbound. The magic between her and Julian is a joy to watch.
This panto has old panto ideas, with brand-new slants on the gags. All throughout the show, Mr. Clary is ruthless in his cutting humour, and the audience can’t get enough.
Jane is the brunt of a lot of it, being a northern lass. Nigel hasn’t got a leg to stand on.
Ms McDonald gets a chance to sing You’re My World without interruption. It was the icing on the cake for a spectacular show.
How would I describe this panto? They brought the chaos of Vegas to the Palladium.