Sheer genius at Kenilworth panto

ROBIN Hood was new to me as a pantomime and immensely enjoyable it was too.

We all know the story - Robin Hood (Gill Bowser) robs from the rich to give to the poor, which in the usurping King John’s reign is pretty much everyone. Maid Marion (Imogen Parker) is awaiting news of her inheritance from Aunt Effie (David Pinner) but intercepted by the evil Sheriff of Nottingham (Des McCann) and his sidekick Nell Nightshade (Amanda Dodd), plus his two incompetent flunkies Whippem and Floggem (John Nichols and Michael Santos). Needless to say the Sheriff’s dastardly plan is foiled by the effervescent Robin and his band of – admittedly not always hero material – outlaws.

It was very, very funny with some moments of sheer genius – including the wonderful scene where the horse and cart is supposed to be finding its own way to Sherwood Forest – incredible.

I always feel at the Talisman that some professional actors have slipped in under the wire – and reading the biogs when I should have been eating ice cream - it’s true! My star of the show – the ‘Oward Overacting Award is a toss up between Nell Nightshade and Effie. The Sonny and Cher duet with Will Scarlet (Ian Meikle) is the clincher. I laughed till my sides hurt. Oh and there’s a special award for the set design and painting – wonderful.

Well done, Talisman, you’ve done it again.

Jane Howard