Glasgow pantomime legends Elaine C Smith, Darren Brownlie and Johnny Mac are back, bringing Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to life once more; if you’re looking for a panto that will have you and the kids laughing and entertained, look no further – Alan McHugh’s version of the classic has it all.
The King’s Theatre pantomime is considered to be a ‘must see’ in Glasgow during the festive season. With its vibrant set and ensemble Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will sweep you off your feet and straight into the land of ‘Glaswegia’. Darren Brownlie (The Man in the Mirror) who opens up the show is absolutely fantastic as always and has the audience in fits of giggles.
We start on the eve of Snow White (Blythe Jandoo)’s 21st birthday – she is due to become the new queen of Glaswegia. However the evil Queen Cranachan (Liz Ewing) will do everything in her power to stop this from happening. Blythe Jandoo is full of grace and humour as Snow White and fits right into the world of panto. Early on, Snow White meets Prince Calum (Christopher Jordan-Marshall) and they quickly fall for each other. Their blossoming romance is stopped as they discover the evil plans of Queen Cranachan. Nurse Bella (Elaine C Smith), Muddles (Johnny Mac) and Prince Calum (Christopher Jordan-Marshall) decide to help Snow White hide in the woods with the magnificent seven, a group of friendly miners. Join the cast on this quest and embrace the fantastic glaswegian humour. With plenty of audience participation, sign alongs and laughs it’s impossible not to have a good time.
Elaine C Smith (Nurse Bella) is one of Scotland’s most popular performers. Her vocal and acting skills are truly undeniable and she brings so much effortless comedic skill to making the audience smile from the minute she steps foot on stage. For over 20 years now, Elaine has been headlining Scotland’s number one pantomimes and it’s safe to say that the festive season just wouldn’t be the same without her.
Johnny Mac (Muddles, this year) is also back and is still very much ‘enjoying himself’. Smith, Brownlie and Mac have established themselves as quite the panto trio, delivering laughs without missing a beat. It’s clear to see that they are having just as much fun on stage as the audience watching them. Their on-stage chemistry just gets better and better each year. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is full of dance numbers, fabolous costumes and an absolutely breathtaking set.
The organisation Crossroads Pantomimes, along with four partner venues, decides on the pantomime titles that will be produced each year, and alongside the creation of new set and costume designs commissioned to be built for the season, the team has to consider which elements from their vast stock of sets – including 280 set pieces and 2,000 backdrops, over 4,500 props and 120,000 costumes – might be allocated to each show. These are truly mind-blowing numbers – the attention to detail and the massive effort that goes into these productions can be spotted from a mile away, creating a really special experiences for families, friends and work colleagues this time of year.
With thanks to Joanna Zuchowska for this review.
