Review: Robinson Crusoe & The Caribbean Pirates @ New Theatre
Robinson Crusoe & The Caribbean Pirates
New Theatre
Tuesday 13th December 2011
A panto review - it’s in front of you!
Yes, quite, and what a panto it is here in Cardiff this year as Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates sail into the New Theatre to dazzle and delight. King of the jungle turns Queen of the pantomime, as veteran dame Christopher Biggins plays the marvellous Mrs. Crusoe with ventriloquist virtuoso Paul Zerdin starring as the adventure loving Robinson.
The show is fast-paced, gag-filled and, of course, full of family fun with two oversized octopuses, a mermaid, mini gorillas and some truly outrageous costumes. But for me it is Zerdin’s cheeky puppet Sam who steals the show. Usually I become bored of ventriloquist acts very quickly but Zerdin is a world leader in the art and his timing and original material is most impressive. The highlight of the show is when the prepubescent puppet Sam, left alone on stage in utter silence, lifts his head and begins a solo performance. Predictable perhaps, but amusing nonetheless; a moment symbolic of the whole pantomime experience. A young mother in front almost leapt a foot when he started moving. Classic.
David Bedella, whose career notes include the voicing of Victor in the new series of Thomas and Friends (knew I recognised him), is suitably nasty as villain Blackheart the Pirate, who, and if this does spoil it for you then you’re clearly a newcomer to all this, fails in the end to foil Robinson and get the treasure. The whole show, with its entertaining audience participation and inevitable finale, is successful in producing that feel-good spirit which pantomime is designed to evoke.
I may be seventeen and into philosophical discussions over a herbal infusion, but I lap up the panto every year and, as I’m starring in one myself in the New Year, enjoyed it all the more this time round. This fabulous tradition marks the beginning of my Christmas experience and I feel much the merrier for going along.
All we need now is a journalistic gem of a finish to give this review a happy ending too. So, ahem, is Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates at the New Theatre a great panto?!
OH, YES IT IS!
Robinson Crusoe & the Caribbean Pirates runs until the 22nd January. See website for times and tickets - www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk
(Many thanks to the New Theatre for another twelve months of top shows and warm welcomes - 2012 looks to be a vintage year and I hope I can get to more performances than I have of late. Next December’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, is set to star Joe Pasquale.)
Info Sport & Leisure Performing Arts Acting, Drama and Theatre
Organisations Royal Welsh College Of Music And Drama - Young Actors Studio
1 Comment – Postiwch sylw
ES953
Rhoddwyd sylw 51 mis yn ôl - 8th February 2012 - 21:16pm
I went to see it it was probaly the funniest panto i have been to it was hilairious