Southampton Mayflower – until 31st December 2022
Reviewed by Lucy Hitchcock
4****
Fresh from Crossroads Pantomimes comes a re-imagination of Goldilocks and the Three Bears … in classic pantomime fashion!
Faye Brooks stars alongside Adam Strong and Jason Donovan as Goldilocks, Dame Betty Barnum and Count Ramsey of Erinsborough. With special guests Richard Cadell and Sooty, this is the perfect feel good pantomime. Set within a circus, Betty Barnum tries to build her profits when Count Ramsey swoops in and steals her star of the show – Baby Bear, who can sing, talk and tap dance! She successfully manages to release the Bears from the Counts Circus of Nightmares and produces the best circus you will see this Christmas time!
Adam Strong as Betty is perfection-with a great audience rapport from the start and a stellar singing voice, there is not a moment to be missed when he is on stage. When coupled with Jason Donovan, this creates tradition panto chaos and really gets down to the essence of panto, fun to be had by all!! Faye Brooks and Richard Cadell are a perfect match also and Cadell has a fabulous catchphrase and dance whenever he enters the stage – which had us laughing hysterically!
The main event for me however, was the introduction of Armando and Jane as the ‘Skating Sensations’ and Junior Lichner as ‘Rola Rola’. These two acts were brilliant and it was as if we were truly watching a circus before our eyes!!
And incredible praise must be given to head of wardrobe Fran Horler, because her costumes didn’t miss a beat – there were so many sequins on the stage that it was impossible not to smile with glee!!
This is a great show, with audience participation at every corner and I guarantee you will come out of it laughing!!