REVIEW: Goldilocks is just right as a fantastic panto at The Tivoli

When it comes down to it, Goldilocks is a fussy quine – after all she like things to be not too this and not too that, but just right. Which means she would love Attic Theatre’s pantomime take on her tale.

For here is a festive treat that isn’t your traditional pantomime, but still keeps in all the revered rites of booing the baddie, cheering the goodies, shouting out, joining in and generally having a fairly brilliant caper on stage and off.

Which makes it one of the freshest and most original offerings you’ll find among the rich smorgasbord on offer as panto season gets properly underway this weekend.

The three bears light up The Tivoli every time they appear in Goldilocks at The Tivoli. Image: Attic Theatre.

Director and writer Scott Jamieson shows a deft touch in going off-piste with Goldilocks And The Three Bears – a panto not seen in this neck of the woods for many a year until its current outing at The Tivoli.

Touches of genius in Goldilocks And The Three Bears at The Tivoli

And he shows some touches of genius in how he ramps up that premise by transporting Goldilocks’ adventures into the circus world. He stamps it as a different beast from the get-go with an opening number built around Lady Marmalade that in most pantos would be a showstopper rather than an intro to the action.

That was a busy stage, crammed with strongmen, clowns, acrobats, dancers, bearded ladies and bona fide can-canning showgirls. Talk about setting the bar high.

After a roll call of characters – a nifty device that wastes no time in setting the scene and getting straight to the action – we were off to a different Goldilocks.

Dame Tina Trott is brilliantly essayed by Steven Trott in Goldilocks And The Three Bears at The Tivoli. Image: Attic Theatre.

This was one where our hero is at the heart of her mum’s circus, while the villainous rival circus master, Raven, is trying to take it down.

Which is an excellent platform to launch a show full of laughs, colour, great song and dance – and genuine heart delivered by a talented and enthusiastic cast of amateurs.

At times you forget all the folk stage have day jobs, given the quality of performance, from the big set piece song and dance numbers – a Tina Turner mash-up closing out the first act is just joyous fun – to the more intimate ballads. Zoe Frieslick as Goldilocks delivers a Both Sides Now, that Joni Mitchell would applaud.

Matthew Walker is most villainous of villains in Goldilocks

The ringmaster of all this, if you will, is our Doric Dame Tina Trott, essayed superbly by Steven Reid, who has the gift of both great comic timing and building an easy rapport with the audience.

He’s aided and abetted by Sam Allan as Feil Neil, the lovelorn laddie who only wants to win Goldilock’s heart but also has some of the best gags in the show, up to and including being shot across stage from a cannon. Well, sort of.

Sam Allan has some of the best gags as Feil Neil in Goldilocks at The Tivoli. Image: Attic Theatre.

No panto is complete without a villain and Matthew Walker’s Raven is the most villainous of them all, chewing the scenery and earning every boo and hiss. In fact, he is so villainous, he’s kidnapping villains from other pantos to steal their powers and become a super baddie.

Which brings us back to those touches of genius from scriptwriter Scott. A Baddies’ Tango, riffing on Cell Block Tango from Chicago, was original and funny. And what’s not to like about seeing everyone from Abanazar to Captain Hook telling us why the goodies had it coming?

This being the Attic panto, it’s not complete without an appearance from Fairy G. Michelle Bruce played a blinder in her take on this getting on for ditzy fairy godmother who doesn’t just save the day but delivers some epic jokes.

Michelle Bruce as Fairy G in Attic Theatre’s panto Goldilocks And The Three Bears at The Tivoli. Image: Attic Theatre.

Goldilocks And The Three Bears is everything you want from a panto

Goldilocks is nothing without those bears – in this case an uber-cute family who not only talk but sing and dance. Graeme Massie (Pappa Bear), Jill Shearer (Mamma Bear) and, in the show we saw, Esme Rough as Baby Bear, light up the theatre every time they step on stage. And Jill has a stunning voice, showcased to great effect in On The Radio.

Goldilocks And The Three Bears is everything you want from a panto with the added bonus of being fresh, inventive and superb fun.

It’s just right.

For more information and tickets for Attic Theatre’s Goldilocks And The Three Bears at The Tivoli Theatre go to thetivolitheatre.com