WHY PANTO LOONS SHOULD HEAD FOR PLYMOUTH

PANTOMIMES may be thin on the ground this year, but Theatre Royal Plymouth has taken up the challenge of making a Covid-safe version. Sadly, that means no young ones called up on stage, screams of ‘It’s behind you!’ or audience singalong. Within these constrictions, Michael Harrison has devised this delightful panto-lite — 75 minutes of fast-paced storytelling, packed with songs and stage business. Les Dennis (left) leads the cast in the Dame role, as Robinson Crusoe’s mother, Mavis (cue his impression of Mavis from Coronation Street). Corrie star Connor McIntyre is his love interest, Captain Cockles; while panto stalwart Andy Ford is her other son, Billy.

It’s a winning combination, and Robinson Crusoe has lots of comedy (some that may require parental explanation), and the segment in which the trio have an increasingly saucy conversation about Billy’s love life (or lack of it) with the responses in song excerpts is particularly memorable.

In the title role is former Blue boy band star Simon Webbe, who swashes his buckle to rescue his sweetheart, Polly (Charlotte Haines), from the clutches of Jennie Dale’s jolly Pirate Queen. Our hero is helped in his endeavour by the Spirit of the Ocean (Emily Beth Harrington), and everyone gets to sail home safely, courtesy of the pirate crew, aka the Timbuktu Tumblers, an acrobatic group who literally jump through hoops to entertain us.

The show, directed by Jonathan Kiley, finishes on an emotional note as Miss Harrington leads the cast in singing ‘Finding Pantoland’, which talks about our joy at being back in that magical place. A hearty ‘Arrr!’ to that.

Until January 3, theatreroyal.com.