(seen at the afternoon preview performance on 10th December 2023)
“Panto is magical” remarked a six-year-old girl to her mother as they returned to their seats after the interval. This year’s Wimbledon panto is “magical” indeed, in all senses of the word.
The show is pretty much Alan McHugh’s historic London Palladium 2016 production, utilising the strong storyline and many of the costumes and routines, while adding material by magician Pete Firman (who takes the show by storm) and Matt Slack.
Plenty of local references from the start as Wimbledon Broadway and surrounding suburbs all get name-checks and even an opening song. A nifty ”42nd Street” reference is a broader example of sheer class.
For the most part the jokes are a lot cleaner than Clary and his West End gang’s, family orientated for the delighted kids young and old who comprise the regular audience here. A couple are a little stronger, with one early ad-lib flooring neatly Craig Revel Horwood, leaving him and us gasping.
Horwood does make an evil Dame. Baroness Demonica Hardup is strictly (see what the monkey did there) money-mad, trying to shift her debt by marrying either herself or daughters (what else but) Claudia and Tess (Leanne Jones and Catherine Morris) to a prince.
Whether in a dance-off with Buttons (Peter Firman) or ordering her “Strictly” named daughters around, Horwood understands what being a panto dame means. Maybe not the strongest strong comedian, using movement and character instead delivers an exemplary job.
Firman does most of the comic lifting. More than a touch of both Paul Daniels and Tommy Cooper as he runs through their classic magic routines with the same charisma as those late, great stars.
As in previous Wimbledon panto appearances (as he reminds us), his true forte is an ability to hook an audience very quickly and carry them with him for the entire afternoon. We trust him instantly and his energy never lets us down throughout the ride.
Integral to two perfect set-pieces, “Tell Me It’s Not Worth Fighting For” (a nightmare lovers’ duet turned trio) had the monkey’s first-time-panto-visitor Russian friend howling with laughter.
Evergreen favourite “Something Else I’d Rather Be” worked similar magic on her and the rest of the audience in the second half, with Firman’s "Mahna Mahna" involving four pint-sized ‘volunteers’ delivering the knockout great pantos build up to.
Alison Jiear is a rhyming Fairy Godmother vision in pink with a wand that can make wardrobes explode, and a charming voice for her solo songs of dreaming and strength.
Also charming, Solomon Davy is a handsome Prince Charming with a gorgeous Cinderella in Cassie Compton. Ideally matched from the start, there is real chemistry within the couple which avoids the one-upmanship and conflict some recent versions have introduced. This is a happy match with both well up to all comedy, vocal, dance and romantic requirements.
Considerably less gorgeous, Jones and Morris break the tradition of male Ugly Sisters – proving to be a good choice as a brainless, malevolent pair of bullies who get their just desserts (too many of those, by the look) at the end.
Brighter, Daniel Norford’s Dandini does well to set up the story early on, and is reliable support to the entire company whenever a foil is required.
It looks great too. The act one “The Twins FX” effect from the Palladium appears here, another open-mouthed appreciation from the Russian lady (whose visit will be blogged here soon). Mike Coltman’s Pumpkin Head costumes are wonderful, Nalton, Briggs and Brooking giving us real sparkle with the other outfits.
Lizzi Gee’s choreography of the tightly drilled and energetic ensemble shows costumes and moves off to advantage, carrying through the ”Strictly Come Dancing” theme.
Director Michael Gyngell keeps the mayhem at roughly an hour each way, long enough to satisfy without outstaying the welcome, always knowing how to end a scene on an energy high.
London’s biggest panto outside the West End grants our wish this year, if you can’t go to the ball, you simply must go to Wimbledon to see this.
5 stars.