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I'm feeling all theatrical this festive season

Off to Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre in Soho tomorrow with the mini-Ws. I'll make sure that Washed and Ready readers get a formal review.

Yesterday, the theatrical entertainment came in the form of an ambitious production at the mini-Ws' school. The play was called Trouble in Pantoland and featured wicked wizards, glamorous princesses and jokes about OFSTED inspections. I have to say they made a pretty good job of it all. Notable by their absence, however, were Kim and Aggie from How clean is your house? According to my old friend Hoffy, who writes a more intellectual blog than this at http://www.hofflimits.com/, TV's number one cleaning ladies were otherwise engaged in Cinderella in Brighton.

This news prompted me to bring you up to date with other panto activity from around the UK and its dominions. Guernsey's Beau Sejour Leisure Centre (a place I can actually say I've visited) is staging Puss in Boots and is privileged to welcome Jenny Kendall-Tobias, who can more usually be heard hosting the mid-morning show on the island's BBC radio station. According to the desperate blurb on the BBC website, Jenny is playing Soldier Samantha, "a part based loosely on the character of Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous". The copy continues as follows:

Jenny, who trained professionally as a thespian at the Poor School in London (where Kat from Eastenders went), says "it's going to be hard playing away from type to such a degree", but she's looking forward to the challenge. Playgoers in Guernsey will be able to see her singing the Tom Jones number 'What's New Pussycat' with a dancing cat by her side and a backing group.
What are you waiting for? Book those tickets!!!

What am I waiting for? Well, my hesitation may be due to a diary clash. The Daleks are making their pantomime debut at the Birmingham Hippodrome in Aladdin and will be joined by none other than Don Maclean. Not the one who sang American Pie. The other one, who used to be on Crackerjack with Peter Glaze and Michael Aspel when I was a kid.

Comments

  1. SingFling1:58 PM

    Aliche and the Chopster, with nephews in tow, attended the Broadway Theatre's production of Aladdin in Catford this panto season. Previous years have seen us patronise the yummy-mummy/spoilt tweeny infested Greenwich panto, but Catford came up trumps in terms of ticket, popcorn and souvenir brochure prices.

    Anyway, the show was rather good, and boasted a brilliantly tragic selection of G-list slebs. Top billing was granted to Mark Wingett from the Bill, but they still found space in their hearts (and budgets) to include such favourites as Chris Park from 'Popstars the Rivals' reject band 'Phixx' (he was rather good actually), Rochelle Wiseman from the now defunct S Club Juniors (leaving many male members of the audience confused as to whether it was OK to feel a stirring in their loins at the sight of her barely contained curves) and - wait for it - Nicole Davis from C Beebies, who was also very good.

    Catford today, back on the Beeb tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete

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