
In their eighth year of turning the air blue and giving panto a more X-rated edge, the cast of Boulevard’s latest adult pantomime are in fine form once again, with this year’s production Rapunzel delivering a hair-larious night out, for those patrons in need of a cure for any lingering New Year blues.
Even if you’re doing Dry January, you can assured that your tee total behaviour with be no match from the dry sense of humour possessed by the cast of Rapunzel, including the actor responsible for its script, Tom Whalley. As he has done every single year since adult pantomimes first became a thing at Newcastle city centre cabaret haunt Boulevard, Tom has concocted a show that, while not afraid of a coarse word or two, still manages to have plenty of warmth and real local spirit at its heart, with North East references aplenty to amuse and titillate.
A story not too often given the panto treatment, what Boulevard have done with Rapunzel could certainly not be accused by a certain Cheryl Ann Tweedy of being ‘weak, limp and lifeless,’ as the blend of fairytale, farce and the odd F-bomb proves to be thoroughly entertaining in rip-roaring fashion..
And, as well as being down to Tom’s brilliant writing, the panto’s success would not be at the level it continues to be without the cast, the majority who have been involved from the very first one back in 2017. Hot footing it back to Boulevard from another acclaimed run in pantomime at Sunderland Empire, Miss Rory is both rude and regal as Hairy Fairy Dandruff, with the dazzling sequins on her frock matched by the undeniable star quality she always brings to the stage. Elaine Paige, step aside love, as Rory’s version of Memory from Cats is the ONLY one we need for 2025.
Her scenes opposite the fantastic Stephen Sullivan, as Mother F**ker are, as they always are when the pair dual over dialogue, a real highlight; with Stephen, just like his on stage nemesis, a performer who never fails to impress whatever role he turns his hand to.
As well as penning a script that isn’t afraid of pushing the boundaries now and again, Tom also delivers another cracking star turn as jovial joker in the pack, Pascal the Rascal.
Boulevard’s Rapunzel is not quite the damsel in distress that tradition would have you believe, with Hazel Pude, once again ripping up the princess rule book to make the heroine of the hour less prime and proper and more playful and potty mouthed. And, as a huge Eurovision fan, you very nearly needed to peel me off the ceiling when she burst into Katrina & the Waves 1997 winner Love Shine A Light.
Every princess, whether she needs rescuing or not, needs a dashing price in her life and, thankfully for Rapunzel, she had Prince Ride-her of Ryton, played with bags of cheekiness, charm and charismas by Jacob Anderton.
Daniel Mawston, a much revered panto dame in these parts, thanks to his star turns over the festive season in Whitley Bay, is back as the ravishing and racy Patsy Pig Tail, while another favourite from the Playhouse pantos, Luke David Martin, once again got loads and loads of laughs and King Merkin, once again proving himself as a very welcome addition to the cast, having made his debut in 2023’s Snow White: Rotten to the Core.
Rapunzel might have been told to let down her hair on many occasion, but the Boulevard cast, also including dancers Alice Jane Charlton and Ebonie Fletcher, never ‘let down’ their audiences. A ‘Tangled’ web of comedy, camp and chart hits – including a crowd pleasing burst of I Wanna Dance With Somebody – it’s another must see.
With a well coiffed production like this, the Boulevard adult panto is in no danger of going out of style.
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