Dick Whittington

I didn't think I liked panto much, turns out I did! I think what I've been missing is a good old-fashioned panto and this was exactly that - light on story, heavy on glitz and tradition and a really good night out - even without the kids!

From the moment you enter the auditorium you are wowed by the gold and red set, sparkles everywhere just as it should be! But the real sparkle comes from the cast, Barbara Windsor is just fab and gets a lot of stage time to talk to the audience. There are the inevitable Eastender and Carry On references throughout but then why not, she is something of a national treasure and her bubbly personality just flows over the edge of the stage to warm the audiences hearts ... seeing her do a Lady Ga Ga was worth the ticket price alone!

This is the second time I have seen Andy Ford in the panto comedy role and I have to just take off my hat to his consumate skill - always there keeping the show moving on, plenty of jokes for kids and adults alike and an infectious enthusiasm. I hope he enjoys the job otherwise it seems so unfair that we get so much pleasure from it!

Eric Potts plays Sarah the Cook and is also credited as writer - well done to him on both counts! In both roles he seems completely at ease with the panto style and his wardrobe is fab-u-lous darling!

The remaining cast produced solid and highly watchable performances but were, sadly for them if not us, somewhat outshone by the main core ... the chorus of kids were delightful and dedicated though the adult chorus could do with looking to their timing, when there are so few of you it really notices that you're not all in time ... still, it is early days in a long run!

Worthy of note is the 3-D underwater sequence in the middle, as a diver I really enjoyed that, and I got wet, and caught a ball, and got landed on by streamers, and, and, and .... who needs kids to have fun at a panto, not me! I'd have a liked a bit more business in the slapstick kitchem scene (that was always my favourite bit) but I was happy to have to shout "behind you" and "oh no he didn't" along with the rest

Well done Bristol Hippodrome (and First Family Entertainment) ... a real, traditional, fun-packed panto! Gurt Lush Lovers!