Anna Burnside reviews a 'jolly' summer panto at Oran Mor.
Pantomimes, like rich fruit cake, are wasted on Christmas. They both get a bit lost among all the other parties and treats of the season.
To counteract this, Oran Mor has started its own tradition of a summer panto. It’s in the A Play, A Pie and A Pint afternoon slot and has a similar format and choice of refreshments, although it’s not part of its programme.
Mumbelina has a lot of power behind it. Director Darren Brownlie is a panto legend in his own right, regularly sharing the Glasgow King’s stage with Elaine C Smith.
Writer Johnny McKnight has single-handedly dragged the Scottish pantomime into the 21st century. His shows for the Tron and the Macrobert in Stirling show that it’s a robust form that can take all the gender bending and pop culture playfulness going.
He always has a traditional tale hiding deep under the sequins. This time it’s Thumbelina, the Danish fable of a tiny girl who has adventures with a toad, a mole and a mouse. Here she becomes Ina (full name Ina D.PePe), a discontented single maw whose three weans combine See You Jimmy hair and Iris Apfel specs.
Ina's nemesis is Froggie Mercury, a hybrid fairy godmother/baddie in disco trousers and sparkly green gloves with huge bulbous fingertips. In his creepy underground kingdom, where everyone shrinks to fit in a matchbox, she meets Moley Parton, who has massive fake breasts, and Glamingo Starr, a showgirl/flamingo hybrid very loosely based on Dita von Teese.
What plot there is, is not greatly nuanced. But it’s very jolly, with expositional musical numbers, a bit of audience participation and plenty of good-natured flirting with a game old chap in the front row.
The McKnight trademarks are all present and correct: spangly costumes, strong independent women and in-jokes (including one about Mariah Carey, whose song ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ ends all his festive pantos).
There are the usual geographic slurs and some deliciously dreadful jokes - Froggie M is wearing open toad sandals. Contemporary references include Wonkaland, Ozempic and Baby Reindeer.
Joyce Falconer is a great dame: self-deprecating and gallus. The string bean-like George Drennan rocks Froggie’s yellow vinyl jacket and rather suits the creepy gloves. Gail Watson and Michele Gallagher have less to do but have some great comic moments with Understudy - Chloe Hodgson - who stage bombs their big numbers.
It’s not great art. It’s not even Johnny McKnight’s best panto. But it is a very jolly way to spend a Tuesday lunchtime.
Mumbelina performs at Oran Mor until July 20, 2024. For tickets and further information, go to their website.
Photo by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
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