In only a few years, The London Palladium panto, directed by Michael Harrison, has become a Christmas tradition, renowned for its star-packed bill, lavish sets and borderline smut. Joining Julian Clary this year are Jane McDonald, Nigel Havers, Charlie Stemp, Marisha Wallace and ventriloquist Paul Zerdin. Most of the critics had fun but some were unimpressed by the lack of panto traditions and the rude jokes.
[Links to full reviews are included but a number are behind paywalls and therefore may not be accessible]
‘Harrison throws just about everything at this gloriously over-the-top show,’ said Paul Vale in The Stage (5★), perilously close to going over the top himself. ‘The technical wizardry on stage is a marvel, from a 3D sequence through the perils of Sherwood Forest to the special effects…It may play fast and loose with the traditions of pantomime, but nobody breaks the rules quite like Harrison and his team.’
‘The London Palladium pantomime has scored another bullseye!’ proclaimed Tom Millward in WhatsOnStage (4★). About the star of the show, Olivia Rook at LondonTheatre (4★) found ‘most of his jokes remain classic Clary smut’ She concluded, ‘There are many of the hallmarks of a traditional panto here — the show is full of razzmatazz, double entendre, and an eye-watering amount of spectacle — but it is a truly unique theatrical experience. You’ll certainly leave feeling merry.’
Nick Curtis for The Standard (3★) declared, ‘the smut is as OTT as the sets, costumes and effects, and no one cares too much about the plot.’ He observed ‘No expense has been spared for the razzmatazz,’ and ended, ‘I’d have liked less video, and a plot that at least gestured towards narrative coherence. But otherwise, Michael Harrison’s production is an effective celebration of the showy elements of panto that mark most people’s introduction to theatre.’
The Times’ Dominic Maxwell (3★) had reservations. It was, he said, ‘too chaotic and too bawdy to be suitable for children’ However, ‘It’s still an enjoyable evening. Lovingly done, beyond lavish, laugh-out-loud funny when Clary is clicking into gear. Yet there is a thin line between a sense of abundance and a sense of clutter.’
Claire Allfree for the Telegraph (2★) couldn’t stand it: ‘Each year, it’s the same glitteringly wrapped package – retina-burning megabucks sets, a wardrobe department to make Busby Berkeley weep, a prat-falling Nigel Havers whose exclusive purpose is to be the butt of Clary’s jokes, and of course a steady stream of smut from Clary who can rarely get through a scene without mentioning the back passages.’
Critics’ Average Rating 3.5★
Value Rating 29 (Value rating is the Average Critic Rating divided by the typical ticket price)
Robin Hood is at The London Palladium until 12 January 2025. Click here to buy tickets directly from the theatre.
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