... Dick Whittington Edinburgh When it comes to a big panto experience with all the trimmings, then the King's Theatre comes out on top. But, while the acting and up to the minutes gags are spot on, the production does have some serious flaws. Dorothy Paul excels as a Fairy Bowbells who is never too nice to care about. She deals with a half hearted insertion into the script of getting the audience ...

... Aladdin Lewisham No matter what adults may think, there is no denying the instant bond that TV star Timmy Mallett has with children. The show's publicity sums up the approach accurately: no TV soap stars, no sporting names, but a variety-based cast seriously chas ing laughs and presenting old-fash ioned comedy and slapstick. It is a pantomime aimed squarely at the kids. Mallett as Aladdin has ...

... Yule Brighton Late-night cabaret aimed at an adult audience is likely to be risque, so it comes as a surprise that there are only a couple of four-letter words to be heard at the Komedia. I guessed it would be a drag act and I was half right. Tina C, the glamorous country and western star is the fella. Barbara Nice, the middle-aged mum with five kids from Stockport, is obviously just that. She ...

... Young Dick Whittington and His Groovy Cat Jacksons Lane This show has a somewhat early start, but a hard-working cast soon warms up the youngsters by using every known seasonal ingredient to create a quality atmosphere. Produced and directed by Brian Hewitt-Jones, here is proof that less can mean more, as the venue can not accommodate too much theatri cal trickery. Carty Romaine in the lead ...

... Cinderella Liverpool This show at the Neptune is played at full tilt, packed with excitement, full of fun, frivolity and sheer verve and bounces along from beginning to end. Sytvie Gatrill plays the ebullient Fairy Godmother, enchanting every one with her feisty good humour. Her Cher number is brilliant. The show's more sinister side comes from the Ugly Sisters, an outra geous pair of ...

... Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Scarborough If audience reaction is any gauge of things, then British Stage Productions' show is a resounding success. The audience, young and old, did their best to raise the roof off the Spa Theatre. This is not the most lavish pantomime the region has to offer, nor is it blessed with the box office pulling power of huge names. But boy does it get back to what ...

... The Wizard of Oz Weymouth This excellent adaptation from John Spillers at the Pavilion has just sufficient pantomime business for festive season presentation. The dynamic Lisa Jayn Dancers are soon in the aisles partnering eager customers for a western hoe- down while everyone claps along, and thereafter the atmosphere remains exhilarating. The costumes are bright and the sets simple, but Mark ...

... Dick Whittington Worthing If you have seen one you have seen them all, might be a line that springs to the minds of grown-ups who have seen one too many pantos. But I would have to disagree. Dick Whittington at the Connaught is an original and highly entertaining breath of fresh pantomime air. Written by Christopher Lillicrap and Jeanette Ranger, the show combines all the traditional panto ...

... Aladdin Chatham A lavish, large-scale production, with Ian Wilson's glitzy set thrusting into the auditorium, effectively aug mented by Chris Stevens' atmos pheric strobe lighting, this is one of Paul Hammond's ten Christmas shows dotted around the country. Although it begins rather limply, it leaps to life as soon as Rob Forknall arrives onstage as Widow Twankey. Each costume more out rageous ...

... Jack and the Land of Dreams Edinburgh Theatre Workshop's Christmas show is no pantomime, but a full-on theatrical production. While it manages to include the audience participation that makes panto special, it is to director Robert Rae's credit that he puts the story and story telling at the top of his agenda. Told by Stanley Robertson as Jack and the Sealie Hood, this unusual story pits ...

... Pinocchio Milford Haven Torch Theatre Company's Pinocchio is a cracker of a Christmas show, beautifully crafted by writer/director Peter Doran, designer Sean Crowley and musical director James Williams, who wrote the original score and lyrics. The talented trio combine their skills to create a gripping, unique interpretation of the well-loved story a musical morality play, high drama ...

... Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Preston It's the stuff that hit musicals or sitcoms are made of Book a TV name with a handsome face and a relative unknown built like a stick insect and watch the latter steal the show. Without Steve Royle he is Mad Edgar at Lancashire theme park Camelot this Duggie Chapman production at the Charter would be in trouble. He starts out lifting the proceedings and ...