Dame Dolly saves Panto and Christmas - Hawth panto review

There was a point this year when I thought the Hawth panto wasn't going to go ahead.
The cast of Dame Dolly Saves PantoThe cast of Dame Dolly Saves Panto
The cast of Dame Dolly Saves Panto

I honestly thought that my Christmas was over. The Hawth panto has been a staple for my family for more than ten years.

Every year it just gets better and better and to think there might have been a year without one was hard to take.

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But luckily Hawth panto regulars Paul Hendy, Michael J Batchelor and Richard Franks (and Dolly) have saved the day.

Chrissie Perkins as Jill and Richard Franks as BillyChrissie Perkins as Jill and Richard Franks as Billy
Chrissie Perkins as Jill and Richard Franks as Billy

Written by regular pantomime producer Hendy, and with a cast of five this 70-minute extravaganza features all the moments which makes the Hawth panto so good.

A lot of things are scaled down - the audience and their participation, the cast and the sets are all minimal (although the set is still pretty good!).

But what they haven't scaled back on is laughs (the jokes are as funny and as topical as ever), great musical numbers and the dames outfits. Once again Batchelor has smashed it out of the park with his dresses - the Groggs one being my personal favourite.

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And don't worry, everything you expect is in there. The pun-filled cart scene, the over-the-top villain and, of course, the Ghost gag bench (which they have made work brilliantly without the audience being able to shout out).

Dame Dolly Saves PantoDame Dolly Saves Panto
Dame Dolly Saves Panto

Jocasta Almgill (Fairy Moonshot), Chrissie Perkins (Jill) and Lawrence Boothman (Professor von Bad Apple) all do a great job - with Perkins allround a bility particularly impressive - but as always it's Batchelor (is there a better Dame on the circuit?) and Franks (Billy) who steal the show.

Their chemistry and comic timing is second to none.

It can't have been easy coming up with a way to get this show on but the Hawth have. And with everything that has gone on this year, this is the show we need in our lives right now.

Positive, upbeat and will leave you smiling from ear to ear. Go see it and let Dame Dolly save your Chrisatmas.

Dame Dolly Saves Panto info:

Tickets: £20.95 (discounts: £18.85)

Click here for your FREE digital programme!

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Limited to 6 tickets per booking. In line with government regulations you should only be sat with other members of your household. Seats will be automatically allocated to assist social distancing.

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