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Michael Cox reviews a production that 'is a treat from start to finish'.
Let’s get this out of the way: anyone going to the Tron’s panto hoping to see a version of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen is going to be greatly disappointed. Yes, there is a magic mirror that gets smashed, and this sets a quest into motion. But that’s about it.
However, those looking for a cheeky celebration of comedy and theatricality will struggle to find a more entertaining production than The Snaw Queen. The story? In truth it matters little, but here goes. Kristine Kringle (she from Miracle on 34 Parnie Street two years back) is working at her toyshop with Rudolph and elves Elvira and Elvis in preparation for Christmas. Olive (the other reindeer) enters, star struck by (and in love with) Rudolph and desperate for work. She discovers a magic mirror that breaks and…well, I won’t spoil it.
The plot is nothing more than an opportunity for the six-member cast to dance, sing and play multiple roles: and boy do they do so with pizzazz and relish. Sense is replaced with silliness, and it all makes for a terrifically entertaining production; for every joke that doesn’t work are three that land.
Johnny McKnight is fast becoming Scotland’s prince of panto (if he hasn’t been so anointed already). Maybe this production doesn’t have the heart that his best pantos have had, but as a whole this is a treat from start to finish.
The Snaw Queen performs at the Tron until January 7, 2017.
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