WULLIE WHITTINGTON. To 7 January.
Glasgow
WULLIE WHITTINGTON
by Gordon Dougall and Fletcher Mathers
Tron Theatre To 7 January 2007
6 – 21 Dec Tue & Thu at 10am & 7.30pm, Wed & Fri at 1pm & 7.30pm, Sat at 2pm & 7.30pm, Sun at 1pm & 5pm.
22 Dec –7 Jan 22 Dec at 5pm & 8pm, afterwards Tue at 7.30pm, Wed – Sat at 2pm & 7.30pm, Sun at 1pm & 5pm.
Runs 2hr. One interval.
TICKETS: 0141 552 8587.
www.tron.co.uk.
Review: Thelma Good 6 December 2006.
A tradition of its own.
The Tron Panto has become a tradition of its own. It may be a small theatre and cast, but the love and care going into their seasonal main show continues to give this reviewer a real tinselly thrill.
Designer Kenny Miller gives us a Tron Square complete with crib, under water set and a sea-going ship with seagulls. He uses his signature items, light bulbs, the colours pink, black and white, with his usual aplomb. This year the writing honours fall to Gordon Dougall and sometime-panto animal Fletcher Mather. They’re into japes connected to the weird world of Panto where Principal Boys are girls and the dame, Sheena the Chef in this one, is a bloke. Not just any bloke but the redoubtable Bob Carr who has trodden many a board, and who really knows how to be an out-there broad.
Joining him in the tale is Wullie Whittington (Mark Pendergast), Dick’s Glaswegian cousin who has not a cat but Baarbaara, a sheep who thinks she’s a cat. Both Pendergast and Claire Dargo as the deluded sheep surge with the right performance spirit so the audience participation rises eagerly to meet them. Turning into the baddie Ratspooran is Alasdair McCrone’s Fitzspooran while Michelle Gallagher as his daughter Eilidh is the feisty love interest for Wullie.
As ever there are comic songs, though the Tron needs to sort out the sound balance so we can get all the lyrics’ jokes. Much fun, as is the Tron’s wont, is made of other Glasgow theatres’ Christmas shows - and the National Theatre of Scotland. But I missed Forbes Masson, former writer of the Tron Panto, with his sights raised higher still, aiming at the masters of our Scottish political world.
You’ll still laugh a lot at jokes about Panto ways, Dougall and Mather’s goes at the local theatre world certainly amusing those in the know And the strong cast, including the understudies and the silent Peter Screen ensure this one will leave you twinkling with Christmas spirit.
Sheena the Chef: Bob Carr.
Baarbaara: Claire Dargo.
Eilidh: Michelle Gallacher.
Fairy Gorbells: as herself.
Fitzsporran: Alasdair McCrone.
Wullie Whittington: Mark Prendergast.
Tommy the Cat: Peter Screen.
Understudies: Jennifer Edgar and Steven Struthers.
Director: Gordon Dougall.
Designer: Kenny Miller.
Lighting: Paul Sorley.
Composer/Musical Director: Sally Clay.
Musician: Bob Brown.
Choreographer: Linda Payne.
2006-12-13 01:15:59