Ian McKellen might have dabbled but the "serious" actor who has really dedicated himself to the noble art of panto is Clive Rowe. Rowe returns to Hackney resplendent in a range of outrageous frocks made from fabrics so flammable that health and safety officers would pass out on the spot. A particularly cherishable fashion item this year is a headdress in the shape of the Olympic rings assembled from partially munched chocolate doughnuts.
Writer/director Susie McKenna is once more at the helm, which means we can settle back knowing that a true mistress of the genre is in charge. From the start it’s a joyous riot of colour, invention and tradition, as a range of nursery-rhyme characters tell us in song that "there’s a Goose on the Loose". The marvellous Priscilla (Alix Ross, wearing a huge fluffy costume with consummate grace) duly arrives chez Goose, to lay golden eggs, make money and turn humble Mother G into a greedy monster.
There’s pep and fizz aplenty from all the performers as they tumble through the village of Dalstonia in the land of Hackneytopia, for a running time that’s slightly longer than ideal.
Tameka Empson and Tony Whittle are hiss-worthy villains, catchphrase: "We’re bad — innit!" Matt Dempsey and Abigail Rosser nicely question whether that unscheduled roll down the hill means pompous Jack and humble Jill really should be together.
Above it all towers the magnificent Rowe, singing, dancing, ad-libbing and making the oldest jokes in the panto book gleam afresh.
A golden production.
Until 10 January (020 8985 2424),
www.hackneyempire.co.uk
Mother Goose
Hackney Empire
Mare Street, E8 1EJ
