At a time when the country is in the red, thanks to the cost of living crisis, the cast of Boulevard’s adult pantomime are turning the air blue to great acclaim.
And, the latest chapter of what has become an annual tale to bring the curtain down on Newcastle’s panto season could possibly be the best one so far. Following in the footsteps of last year’s Sleeping With Beauty: One Prick it All it Takes, Snow White comes with the tag line Rotten to the Core, but the reality is that it’s a juicy delight with an after taste that leave yous wanting another bite.
Another superb script from Tom Whalley shows once again that , as well as being a terrific performer, the local writer and actor’s imagination is one that truly knows no bounds, with the Boulevard stage all the better for his ideas and rhyming couplets that are poetry in X rated motion.
Local references are bed buddies with Harry and Meghan quips and songs like Roxy from Chicago are given a makeover with generous trimmings of smut and innuendo.
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Tom’s Sunderland Empire panto partner in crime, Miss Rory is a statuesque sensation, with her stage presence only rivalled in stature by a stunning Real Housewives style hair do, a truck load of sharp tongued whit and a knack for breaking down the fourth wall to include the audience, even when they do their best to avoid her attentions.
Not to be outdone in the glamour stakes and getting her fair share of dazzling outfits, Dan Mawston’s Patsy goes from strength to strength every year, with warmth, charisma and a cheeky glint in the eye that are always a joy to behold.
And while, once again in the role of the villain. this time Queen Labia, you can’t help but smile every time Stephen Sullivan glides in from the wings, with his venomous delivery of Tom’s dialogue a master class of how to make a baddie truly evil but highly entertaining in equal measure.
Even an adult pantomime requires some sort of love story, enter Hazel Pude and Jacob Anderton as Snow White and the Prince. Both now veterans of the Boulveard adult pantomime, they have a great chemistry, as well as fully understanding the assignment when it comes to giving romance and raunch at the same time. Their tongue in cheek takes on the more touching scenes and sheer delight in getting to be vulgar as they want to be, make for a tremendous double act.
A very welcome newcomer to the fold this year is Luke Martin as Phil. There are no dwarves in this fairy tale and the cottage where Snow White ends up isn’t the kind Hans Christian Andersen would have in mind for a princess! As its gatekeeper, Luke is delightfully dirty, with impeccable comic timing and enthusiasm that commands one of attention - a new adult panto star has been born.
Rotten to the Core has everything you’d want from a panto for adults. It’s camp, it’s crude, it’s colourful, it’s cheesy and it is utterly compelling.
It’s testament to the cast, also including brilliant dancers Alice Charlton and Carolyn Sharp, that the show is taking over Boulevard for three consecutive weekends this year, with an extra performance added this Thursday, January 26, satisfy demand for tickets.
And given its popularity this time round. it’s already been decided that next year’s production will be a four week affair.
You may have heard Snow White is pure as the driven snow, but on this evidence, the reality is she’s far from it!
*Snow White: Rotten to the Core is at Boulevard until Sunday, January 29, with performances on the 26th, one on the 27th, two on the 28th and one on the 29th. See the Boulevard website for further details.
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