York Theatre Royal
Pantomime: Dick Whittington.
Style: A tradition all unto itself, with clever rather than crude adult humour, compulsory water tank slapstick, an ultraviolet-lit underwater scene, topical references (WWF wrestling, The Weakest Link, Pokemon), ad-libbing from the irrepressible dame and the minor irritation of the necessity for a plot.
Point of interest: New gizmo for 2000 is a film screen, used for Dick Whittington's dream sequence; a ship's passage across a storm-tossed sea; a pictorial This is Your Panto Life retrospective on Kaler's career, and an outburst of sour grapes by Leonard's Ratemon after being dismissed as "the weakest link".
Stars: Writer and co-director Berwick Kaler is the anarchic dame for the 22nd year; Martin Barrass, in his 15th season as the comic sidekick and 'silly billy' dons a seal suit; David Leonard, the Elvis of panto baddies, hits new heights as wrestling fan Ratemon, York's twist on Pokemon.
Main strength: The triptych of stars in tandem.
Weakness: The plot in the second half; added to the police's 'missing' files.
Chocolate sponsor: Burton's Wagon Wheels, Double Choc this year, now handed out throughout the auditorium by cast members, rather than flung by Kaler.
Sing-song: All at sea, sea, sea with hand motions.
Dates: Wednesday, December 13 to Saturday, February 3, a record run. Heavily booked until the New Year.
Box office: 01904 623568.
Grand Opera House
Pantomime: Cinderella.
Style: Meat-and potatoes commercial panto from the anything but New Pantomime Productions, with the emphasis on TV names entertaining the children with re-heated old jokes and well-worn routines.
Point of interest: The Emmerdale escapees Stuart Wade and Tonicha Jeronimo, real-life partners as well as soap married couple Biff and Linda Fowler, team up in panto for the first time.
Stars: Yorkshireman Stuart Wade waves goodbye to grumpy Biff in favour of a beaming, bouncing Buttons. Tonicha Jeronimo, as Cinderella, reveals a pretty singing voice in her version of S Club 7's Never Had A Dream Come True. The spectacular costumes and wigs of the Ugly Sisters, alas outshining their wearers, Stevie Marc and Phil Randall. Warren Furman, alias Gladiator Ace, as Dandini, making a stake to be York's alternative Millennium bridge with his outrageously broad shoulders.
Main strengths: Wade's rapport with the children; Ace's shoulders.
Weakness: The absence of a comic turn in the Billy Pearce or Mark Curry mould to lead and energise the show.
Chocolate sponsor: Nestl Rowntree, goody bags.
Sing-song: Old MacDonald Had A Farm, with children up on stage for a chat with Buttons.
Dates: Thursday, December 14 to Sunday, January 7. Shows are busiest over Christmas and New Year.
Box office: 01904 671818.
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