Panto - Is it fun to go?

[Earlybird]

Noticing all the ads in newspapers for the next wave of panto - various shows starring Twiggy, Patsy Kensit, Melinda Messenger, Christopher Biggins, Simon Callow, Stephen Gately, Toyah Willcox, etc.
These must do big business, but I don't think I know anyone who's ever been to one. Have you been? What was it like? Horrible, good fun, dreadful but still a good seasonal tradition?

more! more!

I think the most important rule when booking a panto is to ensure with the company that a musical number is inserted exactly 20 mins into the first act (regardless of where the plot is) because that's when all the littlies need to go out to the toilet and the adults don't want to miss anything!

Also, the cleaning staff are contracted to work an extra shift after each performance to clean the seats in case the baddie has been particularly frightening - if you get my meaning!

It's the same with male stripper shows - you pay four blokes to do the get-in and set up, but you pay for six to strike after the show as there are loads of pairs of knickers to clear off the stage. I kid you not.

Will post more if I remember them later, but all this is bringing me out in hives now

IME, it is better to go to the big theatres with the big stars. The year before last we went to see Robin Hood at the Orchard in Dartford and it was absolutely fantastic. A few weeks later we saw one at our local Stafford and it was rubbish in comparison

Fun for children, terrible for adults, in my experience!

I would rather like to see the old Vic one (if I lived in London) as I think that may be half decent.

V good question earlybird - I wouldn't have known about the Old Vic panto without being alerted by a bright-eyed MNer - Old Vic hasn't traditionally done it, actually I think it was an adventurous departure for that outfit, hence Ian McK (and Maureen Lipman being Aladdin's sidekick, but, poor thing, rather "piano" as my mum would say, it being her first theatrical outing since Jack's death).

I'll have a wee look around and see what I think looks good this year.

Not a panto, but have you thought of doing The Snowman? No soap stars there, and getting to be a tradition all by itself.

I took dd every year from age almost 2 to 6 and she loved it. We always tried to go to the best production within driving distance, I remember a very good one in the Theatre Royal Brighton starring Lesley wotsit from Birds of a Feather playing the wicked witch in Snow White. Since then she has been with her school every year to the Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne, saving me from the delight

Now I take her to the ballet instead.

I love panto. We go to the matinee with all the school kids which always means lots of atmosphere and shouting and ds is less tired and more able to enjoy himself. We book a box for the family which is not too expensive for the matinee and means that small children can get out of their seats and bobble about a bit. Also you nearly always get the fairy or the baddy in your box for a bit which the kids love.

I think a couple of mulled wines at lunchtime are a good idea to suppress embarrasment .

I think panto is brilliant if you don't mind the "audience participation" stuff (hence the fact that dh doesn't ever come with us). My db, with his very deep voice, is the sort of person you'd all dread to sit near because he shouts and yells with all the kids - and my mum dies of acute embarrassment every time - so it's worth me going just to see that!

Oh, yes he can!

Great idea I will consider booking a box if I go to one this year, but I am holding out for comps. Then I don't get so annoyed as I haven't paid .

I have worked at some shows, the first week its still a novelty and you enjoy all the jokes and special effects and sing along, 2nd week you start to get fed up with it, 3rd week you start to get silly and you all make up rude versions of the songs, 4th week you lose the will to live .

binkie - thanks for the Snowman suggestion. Have seen ads for it, but haven't followed up. Any idea if it would be suitable for an almost 5 year old? DD is getting old enough now that I can plan things that require a bit more of an attention span!

Would love to hear about any other special panto, if you, or your wise MN friend with the tips have any suggestions.

this is very interesting, we have never actually been to the panto (with the kids I mean - I used to do theatre reviews for my paper and have been to LOADS).
We often go to see children's shows such as The Gruffalo and Cliudland at a very good venue near us, but these are over in less than an hour.
Are pantos not all very long? this is my recollection and I'm not sure if the Dss and DD would stand up to a 7.30pm-10.30pm evening.
what has everyone else found about that?

my 2d worth - I cant stand the dirty double entendres for the adults, or the men/women role change thing. both made me feel uncomfortable as a child and I just dont find them especially clever or funny as an adult.

Id like to take my children to a panto that was just straightforward children's entertainment though.

Earlybird, the Old Vic have got the same panto on this year - I think with the same cast too. I have to say that I thought it was very much geared to the adults with lots of verbal, as opposed to visual, jokes(in fact, there were less than ten children in the entire audience on the night we went). I think, I'd prefer to go to a panto with less 'hype' and more slapstick stuff that ds would enjoy.

scaryclary, we always go to matinees!

I never liked them. One of those thing I knew I should like but didn't. Hated the principal boy and the dame particularly. Never liked clowns either as it happens.

I've always thought I will take mine (only 3 and 1.5 at the moment) to something more classical - 'big' ballet, Handel's Messiah, that kind of thing - but they will obviously want to go to a panto.

Just found out that DH hates them too. You learn something new every day...! Our children are going to be deprived

anyone else ever get hit in the head by flying sweets?

We go every year as a family, DH, dad etc all look v bored, the kids love it we only every do local panto no soap stars, rejects, celebs. One year my mum brought tickets for local soap star reject panto it was awful!!!!!!!

Sorry, haven't read all of this as too long. Apologies if this has already been mentioned. I have just booked Dick Whittington at London Zoo. DD is only 2.5 (3 in March) and I thought a more formal theatre-setting would be inappropriate but the Zoo might work well.

There can sometimes be big bangs (and the fairy pops up supposedly out of nowhere!) or slightly scary noises (to accompany the baddy - who might also be frightening to a small child). You could contact theatres that you might want to go to as they will probably know how suitable it might be. Some shows might be specifically geared up to include younger children.

I wouldn't have taken my children at that age, because the theatre I go to nearly always has all of the above.

We used to specify a lower age limit of 4. We ran a shorter, simpler show for the under 4's earlier in the day.