I really can not say that I am an authority of any kind on the subject of the English panto, a family entertainment in this country that evolved in England in the 18th and 19th centuries from the Commedia dell'arte tradition of the 16th and 17th centuries.
As children in the 1940s we went to these shows at Christmas and indeed it was to a panto of course that I went when I made my first visit to a theatre, the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, around 1946/47 I guess.
So it was a greatly anticipated pleasure to take a party to the Hackney Empire for Puss in Boots this afternoon. The show itself was something of a disappointment to me but the children enjoyed it. However, one old hand aged 10 remarked that the Jack and the Beanstalk at the Lyric Hammersmith was far superior.
I had heard from a colleague who had been to a preview that the first half was far too long but was going to be cut. Well it may have been cut but not nearly enough for it remained a good 30 minutes longer than the material merited. It lost its way and became very self indulgent. That shows weak editing or poor judgement, or both. The show seemed to cry out for a tough producer.
That said there were some top notch performances. Kat B was a splendid Jamaican Puss in Boots, and Stephen Matthews irresistible keeping the pantomime dame tradition alive and kicking as Dame Nettie Knowall. Amy Lennox was a completely delicious Princess Pertunia and Darren Hart outrageous as Amnesiah. The energy level was extraordinary, the noise overwhelming, and the house was full. And we had a great time!
© Robert Workman
Kat B as Puss in Boots, Stephen Matthews (Dame Nettie Knowall) and Matt Dempsey (Thomas)
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