Panto may be primarily entertainment but its anarchic, wayward spirit means that, from the 19th century onwards, writers have used it as an opportunity to make political points. Almost every regional pantomime will take a swipe at some local scheme or politician.
So while a Christmas show for a family audience may not seem like the obvious place to address the ongoing refugee crisis, Kevin Dyer’s script, devised with the company Action Transport, does just that. Mostly with a relatively light touch, even if it does make the story a trifle convoluted and in need of a dramaturgical helping hand.
The land of Meane is not known for offering strangers an open-armed welcome. Everyone takes their cue from the deeply unpleasant Queen of Meane (Keddy Sutton), who has a Snow White-style mirror to ensure that she’s not the fairest but the nastiest in the land. So when Josie Cerise’s refugee Princess is shipwrecked and sets foot on Meane soil, she’s in big trouble. Even the Queen’s wimpish son (Duncan Cameron) is less than charming until the Princess wins him over.
It’s not perfect, by any means. Storytelling is not this production’s strongest point. (Why does the Queen sink the Princess’s boat? Why does she have to be a princess at all? Why does the Prince cavort so oddly in the forest?) And Nina Hajiyianni’s production lacks pace and drive.
But despite the unappealing nature of the majority of the characters, there’s some charm and invention here, it’s always heartfelt and Graham Hicks gives a winningly warm performance. He engages delightfully with the audience both as the Minister of Meane and as a little Pea with a big ego who reckons he should have the starring role and that we should all give peas a chance.
- At Unity theatre, Liverpool, until 9 January. Box office: 0151-709 4988.
