Review: Mother Goose, Sevenoaks' Stag Theatre, Saturday, December 10

by Helen Geraghty

There is always something extra-Christmassy about going to the panto at the beautiful Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks and this year's stunning production could well be the best ever.

If you love the singing and the dancing, the big numbers and the irreverent jokes, and hate tedious storylines, then this is the panto for you.

Favourite baddie Dirty Den plays the Demon King with a twinkle in his eye in this performance of Mother Goose.

He's determined to rid the world of humankind, but this wonderful cast, headed by the lugubrious and flat-footed fluffy goose (aaahhh...) and his owner, Mother Goose, are having none of it.

There's some gutsy singing from 90s pop sensation Lolly, aka Anna Kumble, who plays the love interest and her beau, very cool soul singer Nate James. And there's wave after wave of sure-footed dancing girls, from the tall to the tiny.

But it is the hilarious on-stage chemistry between the greatest dame ever, Robert Pearce (Mother Goose) and Ant Payne (her son Silly Billy) that keeps the audience hooked from start to finish.

You are always among friends at this 448-seater theatre in Sevenoaks town centre, which has been supported by local campaigners through good times and bad.

We all loved it. So will you.