Lorna Irvine thinks this year's panto at Oran Mor is 'good fun'.
Huzzah!-it's officially Silly Season in Oran Mor.
Obviously, it is futile to avoid the pantomime juggernaut at this festive time of year, but A Play, a Pie and a Pint have demonstrated, as with the hit Alice In Poundland, that it is possible to gently subvert the format while still providing cheesy singalongs for those who like that sorta thing.
This time, David Maclennan's crack team of Dave Anderson, George Drennan and Cat Grozier, with guest appearance from the fabulous Juliet Cadzow, are back with their ticklish take on perennial panto favourite: Aladdin.
The storyline, such as it is, concerns Aladdin's (Grozier) journey into (cough) manhood, all the better to seduce the gorgeous Princess (an outstanding Drennan) and make some money, with a few swipes at those at the top along the way- Donald Trump transforms into Trumpet, Rupert Murdoch is Mr Murder and gags about the hegemony and hedge funds, and a governmental 'Brats To Broth' scheme (whereby single mothers with more than one child turn their offspring into soup to cut costs) are slipped discreetly into the cheeky banter.
The songs are catchy and suitably acerbic, with 'Sisters' re-written as a feminist anthem and Drennan's R'n'B number 'Say Yes' (with diva moves) leading one to believe Kanye may just give him that call to collaborate, after all.
It's all wonderfully deadpan and springily directed (by Maclennan himself) with audience members pounced on- and with two queues snaking around the building it's fair to say it's a huge success.
Cadzow and Anderson are tremendous value as ever, but it's Drennan and Grozier's show all the way-each scene they share is a joy to behold.
Good fun, although not a patch on the peerless, playful Poundland.
RSS