Suzie’s wee fib causes Pantomonium
THE best of intentions turn sour for Suzie when her quest for panto perfection results in her having anything but a cracker of a Christmas.
This week’s episode sees the Shieldinch production of Cinderella cause all sorts of problems before it turns out all right on the night.
“Suzie has been organising the panto for the right reasons,” says Juliet Cadzow, who plays Suzie. “She wants to foster community spirit, but she alienates people who think she’s bossy, and when Bernie takes over, that hurts a lot.
“And there are problems like Ellie, who’s playing Cinderella, having morning sickness.”
Suzie’s Christmas is far from cheery as she ends up all alone.
“She tells a fib in order to keep her chin up by saying she’s going to visit Robbie in Los Angeles,” explains Juliet.
“The reality is that she’s holed up in her flat and when the fridge breaks she can’t have her turkey, and it’s
beans on toast. It’s pretty sad, really, but that loneliness is a reality for so many people across the country who dread Christmas.”
Juliet’s own festive plans are a lot cheerier.
She’ll be spending it with a cousin in Coupar Angus and will be catching up with her son, Shane, when he gets his Christmas break.
“He’s trying to make his way in the film industry,” explains Juliet.
“He’s working on the new Guy Ritchie film Toff Guys, acting as a stand-in for Matthew McConaughey. It’s meant early starts and long hours all over London.
“He’s been there for getting the camera shots set up, so I don’t think they’ve become best mates.”
Juliet’s family Christmas will be brief as she’s appearing in panto – more smoothly than in River City
– in Aberdeen and has just one day off.
It’s a time of the year she always relishes, going back many decades.
“My very first was at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh with Stanley Baxter sometime in the 1970s,” she adds. “He was a real master of them.
“And I’ve worked with so many big names through the years including Jimmy Logan, Ricky Fulton and Jack Milroy and Gerard Kelly and I was at the King’s in Glasgow with Elaine C Smith last year.
“I love seeing the kids having a good time.
“For so many people, panto is their first experience of live theatre and that’s what gets them into it for life.”