Book news!! from yossarian's diary
Well, the other day I was lucky enough to find myself sat next to the lovely Amanda Barrie, until recently Alma in Coronation Street (they killed her off with a super fast form of cancer that makes sure you are dead before your contract comes up for renewal). Before attending the dinner, the publisher of her forthcoming autobiography (Headline), showed us some clips of Ms Barrie in action, as Alma and, in ‘Carry on Cleo’. She starred as Cleopatra, and who can forget her sexy lisp as she spoke to Sid James whilst languishing in a bath of milk (her, not Sid). When she gets out of the bath there is a wonderful clip of those lovely long legs walking up the steps to a waiting towel. 'So', I asked her, 'were those your legs?' 'Of course they bloody were', she exclaimed, but forgave my cheek when I said how lovely they were and how I’d cried at her death in Coronation Street. more
He also welcomed the stars of the show, former Coronation Street star Amanda Barrie who is believed to have made her stage debut at the Alhambra, and comedian Billy Pearce. Amanda, who made her heartbreaking exit from Britain’s favourite soap when her character Alma Halliwell lost her battle against cancer earlier this year, will be asking the all important question ‘Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?’ in her role as the Wicked Queen, while pantomime favourite Bill, promises to deliver his usual comical capers. It is estimated around 100,000 people will see the pair in action in one of their 78 performances during the show’s seven week run from December 14 to February 2.
the Alhambra Theatre
Mirror, mirror on the wall who has the best panto of them all? Why, it’s Bradford of course. What a silly question!
Billy Pearce, Amanda Barrie and the gang raised the curtain on the Alhambra’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs last night to rapturous applause and laid the foundations for what’s likely to be a another record-breaking run.
This glittering production has a lot to live up after the box of-fice successes of recent years but all those involved can now heave a collective sigh of relief - you’ve picked a winner.
Billy and co quipped their way through a hugely enjoyable evening.
The story, as ever, revolves around the evil Queen who - envious of the beautiful Snow White -dreams up a scheme to rid herself of the troublesome beauty and to win her true love the handsome prince as her own.
Snow Whiet is banished to the enchanted forest where she stumbles across seven dwarfs, also banished by the merciless queen, who pledge to protect the princess.
The evil Queen Natasha, played by Amanda Barrie in her first foray into live theatre since quitting Coronation Street, is an feisty villainess who had the youngsters booing for all their worth.
Decked in her flowing black robes, and a highly moveable range of head wear, Amanda oozes charm as the baddie of the piece.
And what can you say about Billy Pearce which hasn’t al-ready been said in his previous three visits to the Alhambra?
The man is simply a master at milking the audience for every last laugh. Like Cannon and Ball last year Billy steals the show with his irrepressible, fun-packed, humour.
The craft learnt during all those years working his way up to the top of the bill in grim working men’s clubs shines through from the first moment he explodes out of a barrel to the final sing-a-long.
Billy works the audience effort-lessly, cajoling and prompting when required, leaving the youngsters giggling with de-light and their parents snigger-ing at his cheeky antics.
Even when he forgot he was playing Muddles rather than Buttons the comic turned the blunder into laughter to win the audience over.
The supporting cast all shine in their roles. Nik Martin is suitably heroic and handsome as Prince Michael while Kath-ryn Rooney will certainly keep the dads in the audience en-tranced for a few hours.
The pair play it straight allow-ing Billy to weave his comic magic around them and both have strong singing voices that allow them to belt out the songs.
Special mention must go to the magnificent seven dwarfs who energetically throw themselves into the show. You’ll recognise a few familiar faces among the diminutive stars and they are obviously old hands at playing it for laughs.
The sets are bright, brash and perfectly displayed in the sur-rounding of the Alhambra’s gold embossed theatre while the mainly new musical num-bers are catchy and well per-formed.
From the outset it is easy to tell that a lot of hard work has gone into making the production, costumes, and scenery, look lavish - as befits one of the country’s leading show.
The only minor gripe is that the first half goes on for about ten minutes too long - letting the little ones in the audience to get restless.
But as Billy pointed out at the aftershow party plans are al-ready afoot to tighten up the show’s opening scenes.
So the final verdict? The cast and crew have once again pulled out all the stops to give Bradford a panto it can be proud of.
It’s big, it’s bawdy, and will leave youngsters singing Hi! Ho! all the way home.
Ian Midgley