The Mercury Theatre’s annual pantomime is always a highlight of the festive season, but this year’s production of Mother Goose is a spectacular celebration marking the tenth year of the legendary partnership between Dame Antony Stuart-Hicks and Dale Superville.
This production has pulled out all the stops, trading in the traditional cottage for the big top of the Circus which brings an endless array of creative entertainment!
At the very heart of the Colchester panto is the undeniable, electric chemistry between Antony Stuart-Hicks’ Gertie Goose and Dale Superville’s Billy the Goose. Stuart-Hicks, cementing his status as an award-winning Dame, delivers Gertie Goose as a glamorous circus owner, mastering the art of the outrageous costumes and the perfectly pitched ad-lib. His banter with the audience is hilarious, ensuring every adult feels slightly nervous and every child feels totally included. Although I have to say there were a couple of ‘over the line’ jokes which thankfully the kids didn’t pick up on, but the rest were funny enough for a mixed audience.
Dale Superville, as the charmingly mischievous Billy, is his ideal foil. Their physical comedy routines and tangible bond and desire to make each other laugh, are a masterclass in collaboration. This relationship brings huge roars of applause from the audience and making us feel part of their dysfunctional, loving family.
The plot, cleverly updates the classic moral tale of Mother Goose choosing vanity over love. Gertie and her daughter Gracie (a delightful Daisy Greenwood) are battling to save their circus from the wonderfully wicked Baroness Bellinora Badapple. Disguised as a wicked beauty guru who tempts Gertie with the promise of eternal youth in exchange for her golden egg-laying son, Billy. Jaimie Pruden is magnificent as the Baroness, a captivating baddie, matched in vocal power by the returning Sasha Latoya as the eternally radiant and very sparkly Fairy Fortuna, who leads the cast in a uniquely soulful rendition of Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. The entire cast delivers strong vocal performances and maintains a relentless pace filled with humour, dancing, banter, and lots of shouting.
The second half it where it really all comes together, not particularly for Kemi Clarke, who plays Bailey, but where there is far more chaos and some brilliantly written, choreographed and performed scenes.
Visually, this panto explodes with colour, detail, and pure panto magic from lavish circus sets to the spectacular, glitter-drenched costumes, the production level is exceptionally high and it’s no wonder many flock to the Mercury for festive fun.
Photo Credit: Pamela Raith Photography
Mother Goose is playing at the Mercury Theatre until 18th January. For more information go here.
With thanks to Mercury Theatre and Grapevine
