Beauty & The Beastie at Pavilion Theatre Glasgow Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Emily
As the curtains opened on the Pavilion Theatre’s 2024 panto offering, Beauty and the Beastie, the audience was treated to the best of Glasgow panto. This was the first time I have been in the Pavilion Theatre, a traditional theatre built in 1904. It is located in Renfield Street within the city centre.
Beauty and the Beastie contained all of the classic panto elements -singing, dancing and gag a plenty. The performance was full of energy and the warm relationship amongst the cast was clear to see on stage with the ad-lib, especially when things went slightly off script! This also translated to the audience who felt very much part of the show. I have to say, I have never been to a show where the audience talked so much which must have been very off putting for the cast but they certainly never let it show.
Set on the fictional cobbles of Cludgie, the Disney story of Beauty and the Beast was played out with Jennier Neil as Beauty who is kidnapped then falls in love with the Beast, Price Lorenzo (Scott Fletcher).
Jack Jester embodies to role of the baddie Benedict Bridie with gusto, always accompanies by his sidekicks Hammie and Tammie played by Grado and Stephen Purdon. Their rendition of Uptown Funk was fab, but the stars of the show are Dame Dolly Drumchapel and her son Hector.
Dolly is played by Craig Glover, also known as the Glaswegian Glamazon, Reba Martell. Her costumes are outstanding, bold and colourful, sporty, fruity, glamorous and everything in-between! Costume changes backstage must be challenging.
Hector is played by Liam Dolan, who is also co-writer and co-director, is hilarious! His humour and comebacks when thing don’t quite go to plan are just so funny.
The panto has great pace from start to finish and keep the audience enthralled. The musical numbers are all familiar songs which the audience enjoyed singing along to. The band led by Chris Pugh were spot on but must have their work cut out keeping up with what is happening on stage.
The use of the digital back drop was very effective and allowed for the quick and smooth progression from one scene to another.
It wouldn’t be a panto without the prerequisite sing along of the Twelve Days of Christmas – although we have all seen it performed many times before, it always hits the mark and is never the same twice.
They say never to work with children or animal, but Liam braved having kids on stage and boy, did he have his work cut out! They were all fabulous but there was definitely a little sass as well.
In a really sensible move, the Pavilion no longer prints programmes but they are available to download via a QR code readily available around the theatre. Such a great idea.
Beauty and the Beastie runs at the Pavilion Theatre until the Sunday 12th of January with tickets costing between £20 and £32 and they can be booked through Trafalgar Tickets (www.trafalgartickets.com)
Rating: 5/5
Tickets £20-£32 + £3.95 transaction fee
Pavilion Theatre, Renfield Street, Glasgow
28 Nov – 12 Jan
For more information or to book tickets, visit www.trafalgartickets.com.