This year’s festive show at the Wardrobe Theatre is another mash up following in the foot, or rather paw-prints of Reservoir Mogs, Rocky Shock Horror and Goldilock, Stock and Three Smoking Bears. It’s a genuine tragedy, but one which leaves the audience in hysterics.
What is described as the ‘original mother-loving panto’ starts with a chanting priest like figure in Ancient Thebes glimpsed through copious amounts of swirling dry ice under the covering of a proscenium arch no less.
After some silliness involving a number of very Monty Pythonesque knights, all called Chris, we meet the evil King Laius, who in a fit of Herod-like rage decides that the prophecy of a boy killing him to take his kingdom along with his wife can be thwarted by killing all children under the age of 10. And this also includes the pussycat who his Queen Jocasta has taken as a pet. So fur, so good. What follows is a spirited romp with a highly talented cast who take their characters to the extremes of good taste with a healthy amount of gender swapping, outrageous costumes and pussy puns along the way.
Adam Blake excels as he manoeuvres the cat-model of himself, replete with ginger coat matching his beard along with expressive paws. His feline feelings are tested to the full when the fur flies during his struggles to find the man within a moggy’s body.
Fate, played by the wonderfully versatile Jannah Warlow is always at hand. She vamps, glides and sings powerfully throughout while reassuring the audience that the complexities of the plot can be overcome. She guides Oedipuss after he is sent out into the world where he causes the death of Laius through a combination of lethal claw play and a lack of antihistamine.
Harry Humberstone fills every part that comes his way with a huge presence and a full on attitude. The introduction of the interval with a crazed drum solo is reminiscent of Animal from the Muppets.
The finale arrives when Oedipuss, now shaved to rid himself of catty fur to reveal one of the most repellent puppet forms seen on a stage, consummates his love in graphic fashion with Jocasta played with relish by a heavily bearded Andrew Kingston.
All four performers display total commitment to their many roles, despite the fact that they wear costumes that not only fail to preserve their modesty, but are complemented by long argyle socks, worn with sandals and suspenders.
There are silly jokes, crazy visuals and bizarre plotlines, but the devotion to duty by the actors carries all before them. Great music and songs by Kid Carpet, assured direction by Chris Collier and one of the most imaginative puppets by Dik Downey make this an alternative Christmas triumph. .
These guys certainly know their Alpha from their omega and this is one pair of kitten heels which one should march on and on.
★★★★☆ Bryan Mason 24TH November 2018
