... READING IT IS, alas, unavoidable to draw comparisons with the superb production of John Morley's Aladdin of a couple of seasons back still so vividly in mind, and to vote the Hexagon's version, directed by Ralph Tobert, workmanlike rather than inspired, both in execution and casting. While the intricate superstructure that dominates the theatre's stage can be very effectively deployed to ...

... WATFORD THE YEARLY pantomimes at the Palace masterminded by actor/writer Peter John have earned themselves a reputation second to none. And this year's offering, the delightful Mother Goose, played by Peter John himself, is no exception. What is so exceptional about the talents of John is that he successfully manages to combine a pantomime with a message of the triumph of good over evil ...

... GUILDFORD IT MUST be an infinite source of consolation to pantomime casts that there are many people scattered around the auditorium who are hearing it all for the very first time. The new patrons, and the old, found Guildford's Robinson Crusoe much to their liking. There was a good mixture of fun, slap and romance, pood and evil in a traditional job economising in storyline and supporting ...

... The Barry Cheese Laughter Show BARRY ISLAND POPULAR Northern-based comedian Barry Cheese returns for the seventh successive season to top the bill at Barry Island Holiday Resort's Tuesday night family laughter show in the Gaiety Theatre. As in previous years his good, clean off-the-cuff comedy keeps young and old continuously laughing loud and long at a barrage of mainly-new jokes specially ...

... Thp Pro's and thp con's WAKEFIELD A WELL-TITLED play, The Pro's and the Con's, presented by Stanley Sher Entertainments Ltd, was given its premiere at Wakefield's Theatre Royal and Opera House. Author Seymour Sherman says that as a playwright his main aim is to entertain. So if Page Three is your idea of entertainment. then this light-hearted sex romp is for you. The action takes place in the ...

... Behind every man CARDIFF Hitler's Women INEVITABLY the 100th anniversary of Adolf Hitler's birth should spawn a clutch of TV documentaries, rerunning the usual over-exposed film clips of the rise of such an unlikely candidate to become the all-powerful dictator of Germany and involve the world in its most cataclysmic war. But there was nothing so predictable or routine about the ...

... The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd LEICESTER WHEN I FIRST read D H. Lawrence's The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd I found it so compelling that I just had to continue with it. I expected to get something akin to that feeling from the Leicester Haymar- ket production of the Lawrence classic, but somehow the tension and electricity of this powerful work wasn't there for me. Certainly there were some very good ...

... EXETER Three Men In A Boat A JOINT production by the Northcott Theatre in Exeter and the Riding lights Company of York, Three Men In A Boat is light hearted Summer fare, which ambles along like a lazy dog on the riverbank. Paul Burbridge s adaptation features all the well known anecdotes, some are acted out, some in the form of a monologue from Arthur Bostrom, appearing as the author, Jerome K ...

... Snow good to be back SNAP THEATRE COMPANY The Snowman WHEN children laugh without the customary pantomimic exhortations it is ample evidence that the players are communicating the reality of young people's thoughts and experiences. The Snowman was adapted from Raymond Briggs, illustrated book by Andy Graham, whose theatrical vision clearly saw a marvellous stage story for children. His vision ...

... Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs STOCKPORT SNOW WHITE and the Seven Dwarfs at the Davenport Theatre in Stockport is very much a family affair as it's written by Dennis Critchley and produced and directed by Basil Critchley. It also stars Letitia Dean who is being publicised as Sharon in EastEnders and her brother Stephen Dean who is a dashing Prince Danilo. They sing well and make a charming ...

... Sleeping Beauty SWANSEA NICK Thomas and Jon Conway, in associ ation with Swansea City Council, present Sleeping Beauty. It is written and directed by Brian Marshall and is probably one of the slickest pantomimes of recent years at the Grand. Much of the credit for this must go to company stage manager Ian Sandy and all the backstage crew. Suzanne Dando is a beautiful Sleeping Beauty and her ...

... Peter Pan TORQUAY rHE CASTING of a well known soap star in panto may do wonders for the box office, but it doesn't do much to help the tradition. Danniella Westbrook, Ricky's missing wife from EastEnders, is playing the lead in Torquay's Peter Pan. She seems to be at some distance from the role and from the audience. She is used sparingly in this Charles Vance production. Not so Colin Baker, ...