It’s not every evening that you get hit in the face with five toilet rolls. But that’s exactly what happened to me on the opening night of this year’s Regent Theatre panto. And I loved it.
It was almost as if making my 3D glasses snap clean in half was part of the plan for the funniest part of a very funny show. But it was complete happenchance and must have made the laughs even bigger for the people sitting around me.
How would you fancy kale and quinoa salad for Christmas Day dinner? That’s what a Stoke-on-Trent panto would be like without Jonny Wilkes and Christian Patterson at the helm.
They say a change is as good as a rest but I’ll stick with the panto equivalent of roast turkey and all the trimmings, thanks all the same. And if the standing ovation for the first night performance was anything to go by, the rest of the audience felt exactly the same way.
Robin Hood is Jonny’s 13 Regent panto and, unluckily for other aspiring leading men, the proper Stokie welcome he received was warmer than ever. Even in those green velour tights.
Christian Patterson has lost his dame’s frock for his tenth Regent Christmas outing, but replaced it with a monk’s habit for the role of Friar Tuck.
Robin Hood isn’t a traditional choice for a pantomime, but as ever it’s the banter and physical humour between Jonny and Christian that make this show unique. Their long-standing friendship and rapport comes across as they rob from the rich and give to the poor. You get the impression that they’re having just as much fun as the audience.
As ever there are plenty of local references and jokes, not least a cheeky pop or two at the city’s football teams.
This panto script wouldn’t work in any other city in the world, but I don’t think we need lose any sleep over that.
Stoke-on-Trent doesn’t want a panto with syndicated jokes and reality TV guest stars. All we need is these two genuinely funny blokes and some old gags that we’re probably hearing for the 13 year in a row.
Yes, you’ve guessed it, Beryl Smith was in the first night audience. She was 111 today, a round of applause for Beryl. Wait, hang on a minute, Beryl’s ill today. Long live Beryl.
Torchwood’s Kai Owen returns for his fourth Potteries panto, playing up for the hisses and boos as the dastardly Sheriff of Stokingham.
Even the youthful leading lady, Finley Guy as Maid Marion, is no stranger to celebrating Christmas in Stoke-on-Trent. A Wilkes Academy success story, she took the role of Cinderella two years ago. Finley also sang at this year’s city centre Christmas lights switch-on.
Two talented bands of local youngsters from the Wilkes Academy, who are alternating performances to fit in with those last few days of school, are an integral part of the line-up. They sing, dance and do their city proud.
The visual effects that wowed last year are back and equally impressive. Brace yourself for squeals from younger members of the audience when you’re asked to don your 3D glasses.
However it’s the banter and uniquely Stokie character that’s the real reason the show is successful yet again. I’m not sure we’ll ever grow tired of it, even if spare glasses may be required.
