REVIEW: Wicked Witches a Popular Panto

Gigi Zahir is a gloriously entertaining Wicked Witch cr. Ella Carmen Dale

I am a huge panto fan. I have been to more than most; once I did three in 24 hours (Hackney, Greenwich and Hammersmith). My husband is not. It was ruined for him from the moment he was called on stage in Cinderella as the bloke the Ugly Sisters fancied and forced to sing 'Never Lose That Panto Feeling' to the theme tune from Glee and his two daughters (aged 6 and 8) refused to speak to him for a week afterwards. It is a genre that has certain fixed rules:

• The cast must include at least one character who sparks an immediate response from the audience on each appearance, preferably combined with actions.

• There must be a quest. It must be pointed out to various participants on said quest that a key character is 'behind them'.

• There must be dressing up/drag/frilly bloomers.

• There must be recognisable tunes (80s pop is perfect), including on at least one occasion, a drop down sing-a-long section in which the audience belts a verse, ideally that puns the well known lyrics with a local twist.

• There must be a slapstick sequence that should involve either custard pies, or more commonly today, bubbles.

• Sweets must be thrown into the audience and birthday wishes read out.

• There must be inappropriate innuendo.
  

Beyond this, the narrative is pretty incidental. The cast needs to keep the momentum going but their audience is not looking for prize-winning writing or acting, they just want to have a laugh.

On these criteria, the festive mash-up of Wicked and The Wizard of Oz at Islington's Pleasance Theatre scores pretty highly. It has a proudly trans feel. Dorothy has swapped her red shoes for cowboy boots and is now a non-binary Dor, Tin Man begins the show as Tin and then becomes Tin Woman. It makes for a warm, inclusive vibe - plus a fab aluminium Tin outfit - but it will go over most of the kids' heads.

The slightly incoherent plot is perfect, Gigi Zahir a shout-out Wicked Witch and the pre-recorded cameos from Jeremy Corbyn as the Wizard of Ozlington and Sir Ian McKellen as Toto the Dog add a sprinkle of star power that should help to sell tickets. The message, 'we are all wicked, all different' is laid on with a trowel and comes replete with fart jokes, a 'bushiest bush' gag and a 'toss, toss' song, loosely linked to a meglomaniac witch building a Yellow Brick Wall (geddit?).

The cabaret style layout of the theatre, with round tables and high stools and benches, makes for a wonderfully intimate affair. We were up on the balcony stools and the kids below us were delightedly engaged. I would have loved a touch more local flavour. Apart from the local MP, there is not much to link it to Caledonian Road but that aside it is good-humoured and fun.

And the husband? He hated it.

There are two versions, a family-friendly one and a filthy evening show. Make sure you book the right one!

Wicked Witches - a Popular Panto at the Pleasance Theatre 21 Nov–28 Dec. Tickets from £10. Ages 5+

Emily Turner