IT'S everything you could possibly want in a panto and so much more.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears, this year's must-see festive spectacular, is a lavish affair. It's exuberant, glitzy and hugely entertaining for all the family with popular songs, audience participation and the odd risque joke for the grown-ups.
It features more lights than I've ever seen on the Mayflower stage, the most colourful of costumes and a menagerie of delightful animals, including everything from a tap-dancing bear and ballerina hippos to a flying elephant with its trunk stretching out over the spellbound audience and giant teddy bear giraffes.
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This all takes place under the auspices of Betty Barnum's circus. I'm not entirely sure how this fits in with the fairy tale, but I guess it's tricky to fill over two hours with some porridge and a lumpy bed, plus it's so spectacular that no-one really cares.
The circus theme allows Richard Cadell, returning with his sidekicks Sooty and Sweep after a successful appearance in last year's run of Cinderella, to show off his skills to a much greater extent. As well as an engaging funnyman, he is in fact a master magician who performs motorbike stunts, plays with fire and makes people disappear.
It also gave us impressive interludes from skaters and a balancing act.
Jason Donovan plays evil ringmaster Count Ramsay of Erinsborough and seemingly loves sending himself up with plenty of his 90s hits making an appearance alongside Kylie's famous gold hot pants. He's such a natural fit in only his second role in this most British of traditions that I'm surprised he wasn't cast in a panto years ago.
The sheer scale of this spectacle was incredible and the atmosphere electric. My three eight-year-old companions loved every minute of it, from the big dance numbers to the silly songs.
Goldilocks does of course include all the traditional elements - a dame, double entendre, booing and buffoonery - but panto has certainly come a long way since I was their age.
This is a crowd-pleasing piece of fun just perfect for Christmas.
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears runs until Saturday December 31. Tickets from mayflower.org.uk or 023 8071 1811.
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