MOTHER GOOSE
The Customs House, South Shields until Sunday, January 5, written by Graeme Thompson MBE and Ray Spencer MBE.
FIFTY years after fresh-faced teenager Ray Spencer performed in his first panto, audiences still make the annual pilgrimage to see him – now a legend of the art form.
As Dame Bella Ballcock, Ray is at the centre of everything in Mother Goose – indeed he becomes Mother Goose.
It’s a demanding role, but the veteran fulfils it with ease, the audience lapping up every double entendre, daft joke, facial expression and his surprisingly strong singing voice.
The show makes the most of his special talents and he has around him a group of performers able to make the most of a witty, clever script.
Mother Goose is not performed regularly as a panto any more, which is a shame as the traditional story lends itself to the genre.
Priscilla (the wonderful Georgina Whale-Spencer, Ray’s daughter) is a goose who can lay golden eggs if she’s happy and with those she loves.
But the dastardly Demon (Steven Lee Hamilton) kidnaps her and when she escapes is determined to track down his ‘nest egg.’ His search takes him to Cooksonville, where Priscilla has been sent by fairy Twyleth (a brilliant, roller skating Emma-Katie Adcock) to live under the protection of Dame Bella in her petting zoo.
However, Dame Bella and her daft nephew Dennis (the hilarious Glen Richard Townsend) are struggling with the business. The Mayor (Alfie Joey) isn’t too worried about the rent, but his henchman Waldorf (the impressive Tom Morris) has his sights on the zoo and the Mayor’s daughter Dolly (Lucy Davis, who gives a lovely, feisty performance and who has a great singing voice).
This is a cast which knows exactly what it is doing – and when. The timing of jokes and hilarious one-liners is perfect. The interplay between Dame Bella, Dennis and the Mayor works so well, but there could have, perhaps, been more set pieces with Bella and Dennis.
The show is expertly co-directed by Ray and Natasha Haws, Ray’s eldest daughter, and has the necessary frenetic pace, but not at the expense of the dozens of gags, none of which are wasted.
As has been the case for the last few years, there will not be a better panto baddie in the region this festive season than Steve Lee Hamilton. His costume is stunning, his crisp delivery milks the best of a great script and his singing voice just gets better and better.
Meanwhile, the slop scene is a disgusting treat and had the young people around me howling with laughter.
The young dancers from South Tyneside Dance Workshop, led by swings Beth Ellis and Andrew Borthwick, add colour and energy.
The vast majority of songs are taken from West End musicals. Stand-outs for me were Priscilla singing Different from Honk! and Demon’s version of Friends on the other side from The Princess and the Frog. But I also loved a moving version of Smile from Dame Bella and Priscilla (father and daughter in perfect harmony), and a raucous version of Everybody – the whole company clearly enjoying the Blues Brothers classic.
Costumes are uniformly superb and Alfie’s set design is further evidence of what a multi-talented man the former BBC broadcaster is.
But once again, this is Ray’s show – and the little panto with the big heart delivers in style.
Recommended reading:
- Curry-loving Hippodrome pantomime star thinks Darlington is hot stuff
- 'I'll never stop doing panto": Su Pollard on her 49th panto season in Darlington
- Vicar, who loved playing the panto dame, retires after 31 years
After 50 years in panto – 30 of which have been at The Customs House – there will come a time when Ray believes it’s time to hang up Dame Bella’s pinny.
Until then we should enjoy and celebrate his gifts – and start by not missing this fantastic, fun-filled family show.
Mother Goose is at The Customs House, South Shields, until January 5. Tickets are available from www.customshouse.co.uk or by ringing the box office on 0191 4541234.
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