... BBC Big Band Eastleigh The BBC Big Band, directed by Barry Forgie. has a well deserved reputation for being able to pro duce the musical goods to fit the venue and this they did. Glenn Miller was not the order of the night on this occa sion although from the swing era came Opus One and swing, Bassie style, was faithfully re-cre ated on Count 'Em, Fly Me to the Moon and the Kid From Redbank ...

... Aladdin Cork It is not generally known that pantomime, regarded as a particularly English feature, was exported across the Irish Sea many years ago, and like the cooked breakfast, has gone down well ever since. This year's pantomime at Cork's Opera House remains fully faithful to the traditional, with one or two little exceptions. Aladdin seems to be the popu lar choice this year, perhaps ...

... Mose Allison Pizza Express Mose Allison is the Mississippi bom pianist and singer whose wry, perceptive songs seem to sum up the frailties and fantasies of successive generations of Americans. He has been doing this for over four decades and where once he wrote from the hipster's point of view, he is as likely now to go on about being A Certified Senior Citizen. Allison's piano line is often ...

... BMHS Annual Ball St Ermins The 31st BMHS Annual Ball was a relaxed and most joyful party night. Following some brilliantly performed and most able close up table magic from Mark Cosby, the cabaret was opened by a master of ventriloquism John Bouchier. He ately reached his audience with a fast moving routine of hilarious cross patter between himself and his colourful friend. To finale his ...

... Fright Nights Chessington Chessington World of Adventures' end of season extravaganza featured a fairly low key horror theme suitable for family audiences. The event was staged and rehearsed in five days, with the park still in operation. It was only an amazing effort by the cast and crew that kept the performances going in the appalling weather conditions. From the point of view of the ...

... Warwick keeps them captive Southport Dionne Warwick Well, it was billed as The Greatest Hits Tour and that is what Dionne Warwick gave the audience for the first 30 minutes of her show. Casually attired in a yellow top and slacks she reprised her impressive sixties repertoire, most of which was penned by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. In more recent times, Warwick has fallen under the spell ...

... Christmas Spectacular Leicester As always at Barry Young's Stardust Club in Bardon, Leicester, the Christmas Spectacular is highlighted by his superbly talented and exquisitely dressed dancers. Their precise well disciplined choreography is created by lead dancer Ruth Chadwick and each of the rou tines are strongly complemented by superb lighting plots and attractive stage sets. The comedy ...

... Cinderella Ashton-under-Lvne It is refreshing to see a pantomime which follows traditional lines while at the same time making maximum use of today's lighting technology. That is certainly the case with John Redgrave's production at Tameside Theatre which he lit and directed. it is a delight to see as much care taken over the lighting in a pan tomime as in a musical and it cer tainly helped to ...

... Mother Goose Farnborough This year Freddie Eldrett has chosen Mother Goose for his idyllic little back garden theatre, built ten years ago. The full houses attracted to this 87-seater show the love and dedication which the Farnborough residents have for the Prince Regent Intimate Theatre. It is unfortunate that without the promised funding this theatre can only put on the occasional Old Time ...

... A sweetmeat of a panto Touring Hansel and Gretel Steve Cannon's amusing and exciting adaptation for Proteus on tour was very cunning. Me recrurtea tne auoience, not for anything as commonplace as Oh yes it is! or behind you! but for practical advice in response for help from Hansel and Gretel. After all. kids know birds eat bread, so string makes a better forest trail. The snag came when ...

... Cinderella Grantham Opening later than most, this panto from Burden Moran and Paul Holman Associates proved a traditional gem. with excellent acting, singing and choreography, enhanced by rich costumes, the hunting and ballroom scenes a breath of the shires. Director Douglas Gorin resisted any nineties slang, retaining all the light and dark of the original fairy tale in beautiful clear ...

... Cinderella Waltham Forest This is a bright. colourful production by the children of the Jennifer Haley Stage School. Ranging from four to 17 years of age, they have grasped this opportunity to appear in a well dressed, traditional, professionally produced pantomime witf, fine scenery, backed by professional musicians. These annual productions provide a feeder system to adult pantomimes as ...