[Sundae]

Wow - hasn't it come around fast?!
Now I'm all terrified about the weather, despite there being over three weeks to go.
I went for the most bargainest travel in the end (coach) and am feared it will backfire on me. But after all I'll have 36 hours from departure until the panto, so if worst comes to worst I might just squeak in...!

Oh - for anyone who's wandered in by mistake - DanaC, Limey and I are going to see John Barrowman in pantomime in Glasgow (Scotland) on 9th January 2011. And there is pretty grim weather throughout the UK at present. Well, except here, because as I've said before I live in a place pretty much like the Shire - surrounded by rolling hills and impervious to any extremes. But I'll be leaving the protection of the Vale of Aylesbury on my long trek North. Of course it's about more than the pantomime, so I'm really hoping that the worst we get is rain that weekend.


Anyway, some reviews for you.
Obviously don't read if spoilers are an issue... (!)

The Herald(Mary Brennan)

Hundreds of schoolchildren – and a fair few adults too – absolutely squeal the place down as soon as the promised 3D effects kick in and scary stuff, like bats and spiders, zoom straight towards them.

Actually those adults – and a fair few school children – yell and scream when John Barrowman bounces on-stage as Aladdin ... all clearly wishing that he’d zoom straight towards them and maybe go for coffee later. And there’s a tremendous uproar from all ages – grown-ups chortling, wee weans collapsing in helpless giggles – when the Krankies go into their act as Chinese policemen with a seemingly endless repertoire of gleefully rude puns and ripostes followed by some wickedly entertaining pops (by a cleverly costumed Janette) at a wide variety of topical celebs.

So yes, those moments of techno whizz-wizardry are crowd-pleasers, and the free-floating Genie is a nice touch. But the best 3D elements are the performers themselves, with Barrowman larking about as if a full-on stint of singing and dancing, smooching the Princess, playing the fool with Abanazar as well as the Krankies, was the best fun he could imagine. And though this is a vast arena, the whole audience seemed smitten by his breezy, upbeat energy – so much so that no-one seemed to mind that the Dame didn’t have much to do, or hanker for the absent joining-in traditions of ‘behind you’ spooks, or the singalong cloot.

There were acknowledging boos for Pete Gallagher’s swaggering baddie, Abanazer, but the feelgood factor prevailed overall with a well-drilled chorus providing strong backing in the big ensemble numbers and our hero – in snug britches and fine voice – making us wish that, like the song says, our journey with Aladdin could go on and on and on.

The Stage (Gareth K Vile)

The first pantomime to be staged at Glasgow’s SECC, Aladdin pulls out the stops to be a cornucopia of old-fashioned and modern entertainment. The 3D animation is stunning, John Barrowman is an all-singing, all-dancing, all-quipping male lead with the right amount of ironic distance, while Scottish veterans the Krankies seem delighted to be back on the west coast.

Barrowman and the Krankies dominate - Barrowman plays glamorous celebrity and self-deprecating team-player, and the Krankies are knowing in their parodies. They overshadow the rest of the cast, who aren’t left much beyond moving the plot forward. Pete Gallagher is a solid villain, while Masashi Fujimoto’s burst of operatic singing suggests he could have been better used.

However, the three stars are superb. The Krankies’ popular image as children’s entertainers ignores their love for vaudeville and slapstick, and the sophisticated rapport between them plays on several levels. The asides are particularly skilful, since they work both as cheeky children’s gags and something altogether ruder for adults.

Despite getting slightly caught up in comic business, the show is slick and hilarious. Barrowman has a rare charisma and the script is sharp and witty. The SECC has made its bid to challenge the hegemony of the King’s and the Pavilion.

The Scottish Sun (Matt Bendoris)

Top-of-the-bill actors like John Barrowman and co are on the same weekly wages as some top footballers. But are the stars and the shows worth the dosh?

Scottish Sun writer MATT BENDORIS sends five readers' families out to all the major pantos across Scotland to get their verdicts ...
JOHN BARROWMAN and The Krankies are the perfect panto mix. He's incredibly good looking, surprisingly funny and a great singer - while The Krankies are hysterical and simply steal the show.

Then there's the 3D effects which are even better than Avatar's. At one point Andrew dived behind his seat when a giant crocodile leapt out the screen and started snapping at the audience.

By the end The Krankies got a standing ovation. By far the best panto I've ever seen - what are you waiting for?

This one added for balance
The List (Malcolm Jack)

If you think this arena spectacular violates that unspoken rule of knowing crapness in pantomime by promising 3D graphics and a celebrity star for whom the phrase ‘it’s behind you’ unusually couldn’t be applied to his career, think again. The SECC’s Aladdin proves a family Christmas show that’s surprisingly crapper than most.

Dashing bidialectal Scots-American John Barrowman’s all-singing, all-flouncing presence in the lead role (many amusing nod and winks are made from the absurdity of a high-profile gay entertainer pursuing a beautiful princess) is balanced out by him being placed opposite ghosts of Christmases past The Krankies. Their blue double-entendres keep parents chuckling, though Jimmy’s midget SuBo caricature’s squirting pussycat is taking things much too far.

The 3D genie would have looked laughable even in the pre-Avatar age, and even if the computer hadn’t crashed during the climactic final rubbing of the lamp scene – at which point a valiantly ad-libbing Barrowman may have wanted to use that last wish to set himself free.

Booooooooooooo!