New Theatre, Cardiff
13th December 2016
Until January 8th
The lead up to the festive period is incomplete without the annual trip to the panto with the family. This year, the New Theatre bagged David Hasselhoff, who stars as Captain Hook. The kids in the audience could hardly contain their excitement as the curtain rose and across the stage flew Peter Pan, whoop, here we go.
The majority of the adults were waiting to see the Hoff, out of morbid curiosity and a mispent youth watching Bay Watch and Night Rider. Can he sing, how tall is he, how good is his voice, and of course how does he look? True to form, the showman that he is, he entered the stage on a throne, wheeled in by his trusty pirates, singing Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede, famously used in the opening credits of Guardians of The Galaxy. The Hoff does it justice, waving his hook menacingly and belting out the lyrics to the delight of the audience. His rendition of Frank Sinatra’s My Way, given the position he was in when he sang it, was truly impressive. At 6ft something he carries it off, more of a gentleman rogue than an evil baddie, he looks genuinely enthralled to be up on the stage.
Mike Doyle plays Mrs Smee with a perfect balance between kiddie jokes and adult humour, which thankfully went over their heads! In a scene where Captain Hook and one of his pirates have a debate over peasants plucking pheasants, eek! It had the adults on their edge of their seats and in fits of laughter, and was delivered with professional timing, despite barely managing to keep straight faces. The whole show was brilliant, from the fabulous sets and menacing crocodile to the flying Peter Pan. Tinkerbell, played by Emma Prosser, was quirky and roller skated in coloured skates, with a punk hair-do. Mimi the Mermaid, (Stephanie Webber) despite her restrictive costume, which resulted in her wobbling around the stage, succeeded in a hilarious duet with Hook of Andy William’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You, adorned with fish-puns, such as, “I want to get my hook in you” and “you look better gutted and fried” (you had to be there) which they clearly had fun with having toured together previously in Last Night A DJ Saved My Life.
There was of course a tranche of Night Rider jokes and even a little homage to Kitt, with Kitt’s voice and flashing headlights. Inevitably Bay Watch popped up, with Mike Doyle squeezing himself into a rather figure-hugging red costume and prancing around in a blonde wig as Pamela Anderson, with The Hoff reminiscing about the boobies, which did raise a few eyebrows and chuckles in equal measure.
The Hoff is still on top form, the supporting cast, Natalie Wilson as Tiger Lily and the Darling children were all likeable, as was Peter Pan played by Matthew Chase, but it was Mike Doyle who gave the audience a masterclass in panto. Great fun, tongue in cheek and a little bit naughty, but that’s what panto is all about and the kids absolutely loved it.
Donations given at the end of each performance go to Great Ormond Street Hospital, there are 45 shows left but they’re selling out fast, go have fun and help support a good cause, but don’t sit near the front.
words ANTONIA LEVAY
Info: here.