Krankies panto’s too rude and crude ... oh, yes it is!
MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME DICK WHITTINGTON HAS CAUSED A BIT OF A STIR. A MUM HAS CALLED FOR TO BE STOPPED BECAUSE OF ITS ‘LEWD’ CONTENT. NATALIE WOOD SAID SHE WAS HORRIFIED BY THE ‘DISGUSTING CONTENT’ AND ‘INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR’. THE M.
IT might have hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons, but I was open-minded about what to expect from Dick Whittington.
Could it really be so rude? Perhaps it had been toned down following Natalie’s complaint.
Declaring ‘tonight I’m a Dick’ – after blasting onto stage for a version of Shut Up and Dance – John Barrowman, in the lead role of Dick Whittington, was quick to aim a dig at Natalie. “Do you like that?” he said. “Email that lady that didn’t, she’s not going to spoil our fun.”
It was clear plenty of audience members were having fun, but it was mainly the adults in the crowd.
There definitely seemed to be a higher ratio of grown-ups to kids than is usual for the Manchester Opera House annual show. And more booze flowing.
There was more heckling as well – and it was more of the ‘who the hell is Alice?’ kind, rather than ‘he’s behind you.’
I was just grateful they used the word hell, especially when little Jimmy Krankie started singing it on stage. Not really the kind of song you expect at a family pantomime. But then there was a lot you wouldn’t expect at a ‘family’ pantomime.
Panto wouldn’t be panto without some adult humour thrown in. But this one’s been well and truly splattered with it. Too much of it left me feeling uncomfortable. Most of it is unprintable and cringeworthy. And dreadfully outdated.
There are parts of the show that truly are spectacular. The underwater 3D scenes and the Rudolph and sleigh that come out of the stage and ‘fly’ over the audience were amazing. But for too much of it, most of the kids just seemed confused at why the adults were laughing.
The fact kids are oblivious to the jokes doesn’t make it appropriate.
Sadly, the cast of Dick Whittington and most of the audience can take comfort that soon, this whole sorry show will indeed be behind them.
WE took two grandchildren, aged 10 and eight, to see the pantomime at Manchester’s Opera House.
I was a bit worried having seen the adverse comments in your paper but we go every year so decided to risk it.
Thank goodness we did, the show was brilliant from start to finish.
Yes, there was some innuendo, some slapstick, lots of noise and shouting, after all, it is a pantomime and this was pantomime at its very best.
The sets, costumes, singing and dancing were excellent and the rapport between John Barrowman and The Krankies was the best part… all the children roared laughing (adults too) at their antics.
The special effects in the second half of the show were superb, scary and exciting. We all loved that bit.
As for innuendo, most of it flew over the children’s heads… but we adults had some good laughs. It’s a witty, clever script. I recommend this show as an excellent night out and the best accolade was, as we came out, laughing and discussing the show, both children asked, ‘Can we come again.’ Mrs Sylvia Lavisher, Huddersfield