ISN'T that just the spookiest Christmas ghost you've ever seen?
It really was that big – looming over the stage like a giant grim reaper, darker than a bar of Green and Blacks and making a 41-year-old woman grip her daughter's hand in fear.
Oh, it was great.
There were no whizzy 3D effects in this Christmas production, no huge stars and no farting robots (that's Titan from Robin Hood in case you were wondering.)
And it was all the better for it.
The Rep provided tickets for us to review a Christmas Carol as part of our Great Panto Review 2009. That means I'm donating to NACCPO and supporting our nationwide bloggers' effort to boost this hardworking charity.
But as someone secretly coveting tickets for The Krankies at Wolverhampton, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it. It's not actually a panto after all.
I needn't have worried. My daughters, aged 11, also lapped it up, enthralled, scared and charmed in equal measure. It's clearly marketed as for children aged seven and above so do bear that in mind.
I particularly loved the way the ensemble cast reappeared in different guises throughout. I was stunned by the costumes which reminded me of something out of a Tim Burton film and as ever, I shed a tear in some of the bigger musical numbers celebrating the joy of Christmas. Gets me every time.
Peter Polycarpou as Scrooge was mesmerising, especially when appearing in flesh-coloured underpants. which was possibly more scary than the giant ghost.
There were some ingenious touches as ghosts appeared from all angles and some lovely humour as Scrooge went through a well-trodden "journey"- even more easily anticipated than that of any X Factor or Strictly contestant.
I'd have liked to have jumped to my feet at the end, but the rapturous applause didn't quite stretch to a standing ovation.
If you just have to have farting robots and whizzy 3D in your Christmas productions then this show may not be for you. But if you love a simple story, well told with breathtaking skill in an awe-inspiring set then get down there – you'll be glad you did.
Factbox:
A Christmas Carol, Birmingham Rep.
On until: Saturday, January 9, 2010
Prices:
Tickets £10 to £27.50, concessions available. Family and group discounts available. Call 0121 236 4455
About the Great Panto review:
UK parent bloggers are joining forces to laugh their socks off while raising cash for a children’s cancer charity.
Bloggers are signing up for The Great Panto Review 2009 which will benefit NACCPO – The National Alliance of Childhood Cancer Parents’ Organisations.
Leading theatres in England, Scotland and Wales have agreed to give bloggers access so their reviews can spread ‘word of mouth’ throughout the blogospshere.
Cardiff’s New Theatre where John Barrowman is appearing as Robin Hood and the Birmingham Hippodrome where Ray Quinn and Joe Pasquale will star in Sleeping Beauty were among the first to pledge to welcome the bloggers and back the charity effort.
Writers taking part will be asked to donate to NACCPO, while readers will also be asked to give generously.
Panto reviews will also be published on the bloggers’ own sites as well as being promoted through social media platforms such as facebook, Twitter, Stumbleupon and Digg. Contributors, many of whom are also members at www.britishmummybloggers.co.uk, are currently contacting more theatres large and small to request review tickets or places at panto media previews.
Have a Lovely Time editor and mum of two Linda Jones said she came up with the idea after being approached by several large corporations including Disney and Ford to write about their products and wanted to harness the resulting ‘word of mouth’ to do something positive at Christmas time.
She said: “It has been very exciting to see how well this has taken off so far. The bloggers and their families who are reviewing the shows are over the moon and we have had nothing but positive feedback from theatres approached.
“The idea was inspired by the fact that my family loved John Barrowman at the Birmingham Hippodrome last year and as Aladdin the year before.
“I wanted to be able to share that laughter with other bloggers, as well as promoting the Great British panto and raising money for a wonderful charity.
“NACCPO fundraiser Rachael Olley has contributed to Have a Lovely Time so I was well aware of the work they do. As the site is all about having fun, especially on holiday and NACCPO help families with short breaks, we wanted to do something to help.”
Susanna Scott, who founded www.britishmummybloggers.co.ukadded: “I hope that in a year when some families will be weighing up whether they can afford to go and see a panto, our reports will help give the Great British panto a shot in the arm.
“We have more than 600 members, who each have a loyal readership of anything from dozens to hundreds of thousands of readers, so the potential audience is huge.”
NACCPO fundraiser Rachael Olley added: “To see the star names in productions backing this campaign is great for us. We rely on fundraising and applaud the bloggers for their innovative way of bringing in money which will be used to support children with cancer.”
"We are entirely dependant on fundraising to continue our services – we do not receive any government or statutory funding so every penny is gratefully received.
“The National Alliance of Childhood Cancer Parent Organisations (NACCPO) is made up of parent run organisations that have common aims of working together to support children and young adults with cancer.”
• If you are a parent blogger and would like to know more about the Great Panto Review 2009, please contact editor Linda Jones on Linda@passionatemedia.co.uk
• Please donate to The Great Panto Review 2009.
Please blog about us to help spread the word.
And please join our Facebook group so we can keep in touch. You don't have to have got your hands on review tickets or even be planning to write a review. Please join to show your support.
Related posts:
- Great Panto Review 2009 Update: Bloggers unite in festive theatre campaign to boost children’s cancer charity
- Great Panto Review – update, with thanks
- The Great Panto Review 2009: Oh yes it is
- Meet the bloggers: Carol Garrington
- Flying high in Lancashire – why we’ll be going back by Carol Garrington
