Pantoland Approaches! — Page 2
#27
Posted: 10/14/08 at 6:00pm
"Fairy tale meets parody meets comedy meets musical meets..."
I saw Jack and the beanstalk last year at the Barbican and that was an -hmm- interesting experience, not even knowing what a panto was or where I got myself into... Jack is girl!? *shock* It definately takes some getting used too :) overall an okay show.
Then I saw Cinderella at the Old Vic and it blew me away. It was so damn funny and Buttons was as cute as a -well- button. Loved every second of it!
Any recommendations near London for this year?
I saw Jack and the beanstalk last year at the Barbican and that was an -hmm- interesting experience, not even knowing what a panto was or where I got myself into... Jack is girl!? *shock* It definately takes some getting used too :) overall an okay show.
Then I saw Cinderella at the Old Vic and it blew me away. It was so damn funny and Buttons was as cute as a -well- button. Loved every second of it!
Any recommendations near London for this year?
#28
Posted: 10/14/08 at 6:06pm
Pantomime = fairytales played for camp. Basically. With a whole heap o' history and tradition behind 'em. And as much innuendo as you can possibly squeeze in! Pantomime is quite possibly the single best entertainment medium for John Barrowman. ^_^
#29
Posted: 10/14/08 at 9:45pm
This sounds like an adventure we want to take!
Googled pantomime + London and found this:
http://www.bigpantoguide.co.uk/london.php
We're on foot and in town 27 Nov - 2 Dec, so our best choices from that list are:
Mother Goose - Hackney Empire
Hansel & Gretel - Theatre Royal Stratford East
on Saturday or Monday. Which is better to break-in us panto-deprived Yanks? And is the matinee just as good as the night show, or does one's enjoyment increase after a few pints?
Googled pantomime + London and found this:
http://www.bigpantoguide.co.uk/london.php
We're on foot and in town 27 Nov - 2 Dec, so our best choices from that list are:
Mother Goose - Hackney Empire
Hansel & Gretel - Theatre Royal Stratford East
on Saturday or Monday. Which is better to break-in us panto-deprived Yanks? And is the matinee just as good as the night show, or does one's enjoyment increase after a few pints?
#30
Posted: 10/15/08 at 3:12am
The matinee is better because it's the early show and panto is exhausting work. It's likely that there will be more small children at the earlier performance, but the volume (between the show and the callbacks) rarely goes below a loud roar so it's not a big deal. That said, if you're here as tourists, don't waste daylight hours in the theatre when you can enjoy other things that London has to offer.
Last year's Hackney show managed to get 4 and 5 star reviews from even the most jaded critics in London. The theatre is a bit of a pain to get to (you have to either take a bus that makes few to no announcements from Angel or catch the Overground trains which run infrequently and from up north) but the journey is worth it.
Last year's Hackney show managed to get 4 and 5 star reviews from even the most jaded critics in London. The theatre is a bit of a pain to get to (you have to either take a bus that makes few to no announcements from Angel or catch the Overground trains which run infrequently and from up north) but the journey is worth it.
#31
Posted: 10/15/08 at 4:17am
Hackney! Hackney! Hackney!
....and you'll get to see one of the most beautiful theatres in the UK.
....and you'll get to see one of the most beautiful theatres in the UK.
#32
Posted: 10/15/08 at 6:06am
Oh my Lord, I love panto! Had a great time in Canterbury in '05 stalking the arse off Toadie from Neighbours while he was in Cinderella. One of my more successful stalking ventures... at one point we even got him in the car.
Andy Scott-Lee was a bit of a wally. We ended up befriending his father who'd invite us to the pub opposite the Marlowe (LegallySam, I can't remember what it's called... the Pilgrim's?) and bought us drinks which really pissed off the cast. Oh, Mr Scott-Lee, what a legend.
I love panto!!
Andy Scott-Lee was a bit of a wally. We ended up befriending his father who'd invite us to the pub opposite the Marlowe (LegallySam, I can't remember what it's called... the Pilgrim's?) and bought us drinks which really pissed off the cast. Oh, Mr Scott-Lee, what a legend.
I love panto!!
#34
Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:30am
It was a case of very good timing on our part and bad timing on his. We timed how long it would take for him to get to the theatre from where he was staying and waited for him to come out from his B&B about fifteen minutes before the latest he should leave. It was damn cold so we made our friend drive us and wait in the car. On this occasion he was late leaving and tried to get away saying he was in a hurry and my friend just went, 'Hey, we have a car.' We drove him to the Marlowe in the most uncomfortable silence I have ever experienced.
#35
Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:36am
Sounds more like a hit in a scene from Tarantino than a posting on a panto board!
#36
Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:38am
'Take My Hand I'm A Strange Looking Parasite'
#38
Posted: 11/22/08 at 12:38pm
Speaking of stalkers, do you folks have local chapters of Theatre Sherpas or Girl Guides who lead clueless tourists out to the hinterlands for panto?
We're thinking of taking the tube out to Stratford East on the 29th for Hansel & Gretel or perhaps to the Hackney Empire for Mother Goose, and we'd gladly provide libations and cheap tickets to our pathfinder. PM me.
We're thinking of taking the tube out to Stratford East on the 29th for Hansel & Gretel or perhaps to the Hackney Empire for Mother Goose, and we'd gladly provide libations and cheap tickets to our pathfinder. PM me.
#39
Posted: 11/22/08 at 12:52pm
I was a Girl Guide and I'll do anything for a free ride!
Seriously, no, we don't have that kind of thing in the UK -at least I don't think we do- do we????
Having said that, if you don't manage to find a tour guide to far flung Hackney or Stratford, DONT fret, as they both are very easy to get to and finding each theatre theatre at the other end couldn't be simpler.
If you need more info near the time just ask me but basically....
Hackney Empire is on the bus route 38 from Shaftesbury Ave to Mare St- get off the bus at Mare St and cross the road and there, 2 minutes, around the corner is my favorite theatre in the land-The Empire!
The Theatre Royal Stratford E15 is on the Central Line from Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Rd, get of at Stratford station. The Theatre Royal is very clearly posted from the station.
The journey time for each venue from central London is aprx 30/40 mins.
Updated On: 11/22/08 at 12:52 PM
#40
Posted: 11/22/08 at 4:06pm
Mama, I am consulting my English-English phrasebook for a translation, and all I can find is "ass, grass or gas, nobody rides for free."
We are revising our schedule a bit to see Mother Goose at the Hackney Empire on the 1st Dec., so we can try to get to the Menier on Saturday.
Is it really just one bus from Shaftsbury Ave? Sounds too easy.
We are revising our schedule a bit to see Mother Goose at the Hackney Empire on the 1st Dec., so we can try to get to the Menier on Saturday.
Is it really just one bus from Shaftsbury Ave? Sounds too easy.
#41
Posted: 11/22/08 at 4:20pm
Awww I've got my Hackney ticket for the 29th.
And I've no idea if it's that simple from Shaftesbury avenue as I never go that way from the West End. =(
On an unrelated note, there are still tickets left for Night Music? Guess I need to book fast!
And I've no idea if it's that simple from Shaftesbury avenue as I never go that way from the West End. =(
On an unrelated note, there are still tickets left for Night Music? Guess I need to book fast!
#42
Posted: 11/22/08 at 4:50pm
That's the bus I get the most haha.
All I can think of is that I always see these people in Covent Garden saying "is anyone lost or requiring information, I don't charge" and have maps, it's kinda weird..no-one believes them =S
And I'm going up to Leeds for Panto in a month, how sad haha
All I can think of is that I always see these people in Covent Garden saying "is anyone lost or requiring information, I don't charge" and have maps, it's kinda weird..no-one believes them =S
And I'm going up to Leeds for Panto in a month, how sad haha
#43
Posted: 11/22/08 at 7:14pm
I start my panto rehearsals in 2 weeks - and if i dare say....i'm very excited lol - but also because its nearly time for santa to come woo!
The Artist Formally Known As 'Anon2'
#44
Posted: 11/22/08 at 7:18pm
I'll be seeing whatever's on at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle... Brendan Healy told me I had to, so I'm guessing he's in it.
I'm also working on Aladdin (props and ASM) and it has the most bizarre script I have ever come across. It includes a Pandasaurus, and a smaller Panda which Wishy Washee wants to call Winky ("who's got their hands on my Winky?" surely can't be OK?!). It also has far too many High School Musical songs.
I'm also working on Aladdin (props and ASM) and it has the most bizarre script I have ever come across. It includes a Pandasaurus, and a smaller Panda which Wishy Washee wants to call Winky ("who's got their hands on my Winky?" surely can't be OK?!). It also has far too many High School Musical songs.
#45
Posted: 11/22/08 at 7:33pm
This is the one you'll be seeing!
Theatre Royal Newcastle.
Clive Webb and Danny Adams
in 'Robinson Crusoe'
Don't know these names, they must be locals or from kids TV.
#46
Posted: 11/24/08 at 3:32pm
I am not a Panto man, but by chance I have seen a few, but if I was going to see one, it definitely be in Croydon for The Fairfield Hall, for Peter Pan, with the role of the villian captain hook being played by Brian Blessed, now I defy anyone to defy me that a show Brian is in would not be a blast!!!!!!
#48
Posted: 11/24/08 at 5:25pm
Think if you want a audio version, you need not enter the theatre, ear plugs prudent but be a blast!!!!
#49
Posted: 11/30/08 at 10:16am
Saw the Hackney Empire's Mother Goose yesterday. They set one hell of a high standard last year with Dick Whittington, and while this year's production doesn't quite reach that bar, I don't think anything actually could, and MG is still an excellent show.
One sad thing, however, is that Clive Rowe isn't allowed to throw sweets into the circles anymore - as he so nastily (yet lovably) put it during his introduction, "Because ONE person out of the 45,000 who came and saw us last year complained, I have to go into the stalls and gently hand them out."
One sad thing, however, is that Clive Rowe isn't allowed to throw sweets into the circles anymore - as he so nastily (yet lovably) put it during his introduction, "Because ONE person out of the 45,000 who came and saw us last year complained, I have to go into the stalls and gently hand them out."
#50
Posted: 12/2/08 at 9:35pm
Back from our field trip out to the Hackney Empire for the Monday matinee. Never having seen a pantomime before, it was great fun to shout out "it's behind you" at Clive Rowe and Co. Innit!
On the tube we read an interview he did in some free paper. Anybody have a link to it? And who's this Lily Savage he was talking about?
Directions to and fro were excellent! Thank you all for your advice. We ended up using the overground out and the bus back in. About an hour each way. And we tanked up on cider before and during the show, making it much easier to do the chicken dance. But alas, no sweets for us...
On the tube we read an interview he did in some free paper. Anybody have a link to it? And who's this Lily Savage he was talking about?
Directions to and fro were excellent! Thank you all for your advice. We ended up using the overground out and the bus back in. About an hour each way. And we tanked up on cider before and during the show, making it much easier to do the chicken dance. But alas, no sweets for us...
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