Last Updated on 16 May 2024 by Colette
This post features gifted experiences
“This Christmas, Goldilocks and the Three Bears at Epstein Theatre, Liverpool promises to be “just right” with its mix of unbelievable circus tricks, madcap comedy capers, Regal Entertainments high production values, a star-studded cast and a smash-hit selection of chart hits to sing and dance along to. Join Goldilocks this festive time, who, with the help of the Three Bears tries to save her Big Top from a rival circus owner!“
Now I must admit, I thought Goldilocks was an unusual choice of traditional tale for panto – I mean how far can you go with a little girl, three bears and some porridge . . .
Well it turns out that if you add in a random circus theme and quite possibly the most bonkers villain I’ve ever encountered, then you can take Goldilocks and the Three Bears a long way . . .
We’ve always loved The Epstein Theatre in Liverpool so were thrilled to be able to pop over after school earlier this week for the press night of their latest panto offering – Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Having been to St Helens Theatre Royal for their panto, Cinderella only last week, I had high hopes for Regal Entertainment’s sister show of Goldilocks.
I have to confess that it took me a little while to get into the story of Goldilocks and Three Bears – I think there were some sound issues at the start of the performance which meant I could hear the people behind me chatting more clearly than I could the actors on stage. I also found myself overthinking the storyline and trying to work out what on earth was going on instead of just relaxing into it and letting the madness wash over me! Once I’d warmed to the characters and the sound had improved, my experience improved tenfold so that by the end of the panto, I was absolutely loving it. I should say that my kids didn’t appear to notice any issues at all and they were fully invested from the start!
The standout star of the evening was Baron Von Vippemall (played by Timothy Lucas) – he was equal parts terrifying and hilarious. Ben noted nods to The Joker in Vippemall’s mannerisms which went right over my head but he absolutely loved it and we both agreed that his make up reminded us of The Mask.
Baron Von Vippemall stole the show with his crazy accent, catch phrases (“Did you miss me? Yeah you did!” has been repeated many a time in our house in the last 24 hours!) and comic timing – some of which I’m not sure was actually meant to be part of the show but if I’m honest the ad libs are generally my favourite bits of panto.
Britain’s Got Talent’s Mama G was our Dame for the evening – rattling through an impressive selection of costumes with every appearance, though I must admit I felt both her costumes and her character were just a little lacking – she just wasn’t quite over-the-top and “Dame” enough for me.
It took me a little while to warm to Silly Billy (played by Brandon McCaffrey) who was referenced at one point in the performance as being like “Mr Tumble from Shein” – it rather looked like he’d done his own make up and I felt like he didn’t really hit his stride until the second half of the show but the scene with the Bumbee Bee Baron had me crying with laughter.
The Three Bears (Katy Mac, Benhmain Keith and Hannah Riley) rocked out a TikTok routine or too, and brought plenty of laughs with the stereotypical scouse accents and mannerisms.
The dancers and circus performances introduced a new and unexpected angle to a traditional panto – the Baron’s Circus was dark and moody featuring fire eating and an ariel hoop – Amy couldn’t get her head around the fire at all! There was so much going on on stage and the dancers from Dynamix Performing Arts college were incredible.
I was a little bit worried that my eldest (at 13) might be feeling a bit too grown up for panto, especially when Goldilocks is probably one of the most basic of traditional tales however it turns out that he’s the perfect age to get lots of the more adult jokes that panto is so well known for – there were plenty of knowing looks between us and lots of moments that had Ben, Chloe and I laughing our heads off while Amy didn’t have a clue what was so funny!
Goldilocks and the Three Bears runs at Epstein Theatre from Friday 9th December 2022 to Sunday 1st January 2023. For more info visit www.epsteintheatre.co.uk
Why not read these posts next:
What’s on at the theatre in Manchester this Christmas?
Our Ultimate Guide to Christmas
Festive days out in Manchester
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