Panto Time

Storm Lighting are once again heavily involved in the standard christmas fare of Pantomime, providing equipment and design to some of the countries biggest Pantomimes.

A Review for the Hull Panto is below:

Cinderella takes a big risk with the audience's affections in the New Theatre panto. She actually turns down Barry Chuckle's marriage proposal. How dare she? The crescendo of sympathy for Barry is touching and he milks it unashamedly.

The Chuckle Brothers, Paul and Barry, are headlining a formidable pantomime. It runs on traditional lines but the music,dancing and lighting are bang up to date.

Alana Bell, who plays Cinderella, is a feisty, Scottish-accented girl with a powerhouse voice. Tom Parsons as her Prince Charming looks every bit the swashbuckling hero.

Roni Elizabeth Hart is the streetwise Fairy Godmother, hovering above the action rather than flying. Playing the Ugly Sisters, Noel Brodie and Innes Robertson insult, dare and defy the audience at every turn.

When the Chuckle Bothers are off stage the story hums along and the audience's interest does not dip, which is unusual for a star name panto. When Paul and Barry are on stage they are greeted with roars of anticipation.

The brothers have the children shrieking and the parents laughing loud and long. Their humour is a natural extension of what Stan Laurel used to do. They admire Abbot and Costello and Jerry Lewis but their routines are so English.

An Edwardian-style acrobat routine, even funnier in slow motion replay, has Paul seemingly supporting and then flipping another acrobat in the air. It is unforgettable.

Any parents new to the world of the Chuckle Brothers will be agreeably surprised. Their children will enjoy the feeling of being proved right. The Chuckle Brothers really are hilarious.