Plenty of booing and hissing in rollicking pantomime adventure

By epearcy

I LOVE December and everything it brings: the dusting of frost, late-night shopping and social soirees all conspire to leave me feeling fruitfully festive.

The first flush of seasonal goodwill always arrives during my first pantomime and so it was with a bellyful of excitement that I headed to Exeter Northcott for this year's production of Mother Goose.

Steve Bennett returns for his 14th year as Exeter Northcott's panto dame.

This year, as well as being let loose on the script, he plays the title role and takes centre stage at the heart of this tale.

The high-energy, colourful production tells the story of Mother Goose, a poor but kind-hearted woman with a big family, including saccharine-sweet daughter Jill and bumbling, loveable Billy.

Their fortunes improve when they befriend Priscilla, a goose who lays golden eggs.

But do they live happily ever after?

Not if evil spirit Vanity has his wicked way and, after a wager with Fairy Goodness, sets out to ruin the fun.

Cue a rollicking adventure punctuated with boo-ing and hiss-ing whenever Vanity shows his haughty face.

The usual elements of a great panto are there: popular culture jokes, local references, audience participation, music, songs and a fantastically bright set.

Steve Bennett is, as ever, on form and shines in his role and Michael D'Cruze as Vanity is a great comedy villain.

Hamilton Lee, as Billy Goose, manically takes over the stage while Rosanna Miles as Jill Goose and Tracey Penn, as her love interest Jack Squidgely, had belting singing voices (not to mention an ability for making the dads happy).

Although I thoroughly enjoyed myself, I felt it lacked a certain sparkle from previous years and tellingly, we spent the interval extolling the virtues of last year's production, Sleeping Beauty.

But this one may keep getting better — the goose isn't cooked just yet, as they say. Maybe I'll return later in the run.

Importantly, our little critic Mia Campbell, aged 11, loved it.

And when children go home armed with giant Cadbury Buttons and big smiles, you know it's been a worthwhile night out.

Mother Goose runs until Saturday, January 9. Call the box office on 01392 493493 or logo on to www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

Mother Goose

Exeter Northcott

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