Riverland is a world away from the West End the place Wendy Darling-Darling (Emma Mullen) lives along with her Waitrose purchasing Dadda (Robert Jack) and Mamma (Katie Barnett) and her (unfeasibly massive) pet canine Nana (Marc Mackinnon). Stinkerbell (Johnny McKnight) lives fortunately in Riverland along with her greatest pal Peter Panto (Star Penders) till the adventurous Peter meets Wendy and whisks her away to their aspect of city. Poor Stink is solid apart as lovestruck Peter focusses all his consideration on his new darling. Into the combination comes the dastardly Captain Hook (Robert Jack) and his aspect kick Anita Wee-Wee (Katie Barnett) who’re attempting to recruit new members for his or her evil crew. Will Stink, stung by rejection be tempted by Hook’s amorous advances and switch to the darkish aspect, and can Wendy ever get again to Byres Road?
Following on from Louise McCarthy’s good panto efficiency as dame final yr, Johnny McKnight returns to The Tron in his most interesting kind to take centre stage because the silver sequin-clad tsunami of spectacularness Stinkerbell.
The present cracks alongside at break-neck velocity, the banter is sheer brilliance. The viewers interplay is good-natured, by no means threatening and completely hilarious. The script is completely on level, there are native references galore and McKnight’s traditional digs at different theatrical establishments round Scotland are right here too. It is as intelligent because it all the time is, by no means patronising, by no means dumbing down, all the time hysterical.
Ross Brown’s musical compositions are used comparatively minimally however to most impact. There’s an Elton John-esque 70s fashion footstomper delivered by Captain Hook and Anita Wee-Wee with Jagger swagger that brings the home down and a love music parody that challenges the heteronormative panto tropes and has its tongue planted firmly in its cheek however nonetheless shines a light-weight on sure hoary outdated stereotypes perpetuated by a sure different panto throughout city.
The chemistry between the solid shines by way of, they appear like they’re having a ball and the real heat transmits to the viewers. The trio of McKnight’s Stinkerbell, Robert Jack’s Hook and Katie Barnett’s Anita Wee-Wee is pure comedy gold.
Peter Panto is a superb large inclusive heat hug of a present and as good a pantomime as you can presumably want for.
5 stars 🌟
Runs till 5 January 2025 | Image: Contributed
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