[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Ian McKellen leads a Mid-season panto for the ages

We have hit the motherload this week Cardiff! The hilarious, comedy caper Mother Goose has arrived in the city, kicking off panto season a whole 9 months early. Audience member from the ages of 3 to 103 can find something to love in this satirical retelling of the classic children’s story, starring none other than Gandalf himself! What is not to love?

Written by Jonathon Harvey and born out of a love for the traditional British pantomime, Mother Goose is unique in that it focusses on the dame. Here played by Sir Ian McKellen. As you can imagine that gives the cast plenty of room to wear ever more extravagant costumes, and truly have fun on stage with McKellen at the helm. The show hits all the beats of a regular panto, delivering that comfortable blend of nostalgia and current social commentary they are so famous for. Mother Goose is for above anyone else, the panto lover. You just don’t have to wait until December to see it.

[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”29843″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]After the tragic loss of his mother this week, John Bishop was unfortunately unable to perform for the Cardiff crowd. However, he has been temporarily replace by RSC and Holby City actor Gabriel Fleary, who brought absolutely everything he had to the role of Vic Goose. He really knocked it out of the park in his first performance in the role and kept the crowd laughing and full of energy through to the final curtain drop.

Not a single person in the entire cast dropped the ball (or egg) once on opening night, and it was impossible not to get swept up in their enthusiasm and expansive energy! You could see the joy on their faces, which only mirror the faces of the audience. Its not often that you see a show where everyone in the room is having a blast, but Mother Goose was clearly fun to perform and to watch in equal measure. Not to mention that a number of the cast are also sensational West End trained performers and belted out some incredible vocals at times! The sets were inventive, but not over extravagant. Like most pantomimes the pleasure is taken from the performances and ridiculous costumes, without an over reliance on effects and setting.

Let’s be real. Was Sir Ian McKellen ever going to be anything less than fantastic in this show? The RSC alumni and former member of the fellowship absolutely shone on stage, bringing a presence you would expect from an actor of his monumental calibre. I won’t lie it was completely bizarre seeing Magneto dance in heels and floor length ball gowns but that only added to the fun and surrealism of the show.

Overall, you are going to positively love this one if you are camp, have kids, or both! It’s a classic pantomime, in March, starring a couple of the biggest names in comedy and theatre, and it’s hilarious! Grab the whole family and get down the Bay this week to see some comedy gold!

Sadly Mother Goose isn’t here until Christmas but you can catch it at the Wales Millennium Centre April 1st 2023

• Booking link: https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2023/mother-goose

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]