Little Red Riding Hood: A Rock 'N' Rock Panto
Directed By Mark Chatterton
Co-written by Sarah A Nixon & Mark Chatterton
Till 17th January 2015
Review by
Photograph by Brian Roberts
Once again this rock 'n' roll panto, back at the Everyman, following
the theatre's renovation, proved a five star affair.
As someone commented to me it is more like a party affair than a 'conventional'
panto, full of outrageous gags, punch lines, double entendres galore.
As a friend said, who accompanied me, and had never watched to this type
of panto before, it was full of light-hearted fun.
It also did not give a single mention of the dreaded C word at this time
of year. But did reference Luis Suiarez for his predilection for biting
other football players!
The whole cast were stellar, including a live band, as is always the
case in this surreal version of panto, comprising members who interchanged
with those acting roles on stage, playing various forms of music, although
this year there seemed a little less than normal rock-based material.
The whole set up, whether it be lighting, special effects and interaction
with the audience - poor old 'Big John' from the front row! - was exemplary.
The screen display was riveting to watch (thanks to AV designer William
Simpson), especially when Adam Keast (playing the roles of Henry, Woody
and The Laughing Gnome) was featured, doing madcap antics.
Another highlight, among many, was the appearance of Keast and Francis
Tucker, an ever-present in the rock 'n' roll panto, dressed as huge snowballs,
who were fffffreezing cccccold.
Go along to the Everyman and have a bellyful of laughs. Nowhere else
will you see the caped crusaders, Batman And Robin, appearing with Little
Red Riding Hood!!
I don't normally list the full cast of a production but here goes: Red
(Jocasta Almgill); Wolferine (Jonny Bower); Tom Connor (Burdock/Thor/Wooer/Oranges);
Jessica Dives (Dandelion/Thee/Wooer); Zita Frith (Blanche De Winter);
Sam Haywood (Skye); Ben Mabberly (Peeps/Lemons/Wooer); Adam Keast; Nicky
Swift (Pippy Petal); Francis Tucker (Henrietta/BettyBerry)
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