Review: Mother Goose – Perth Theatre

Iconic Panto Dame Barrie Hunter returns to write, direct, and star in Perth’s offering this year, Mother Goose. Refreshingly, his production is far more concerned with its larger-than-life adventure story than setting up quasi stand-up sets or stand alone pop-culture comedy vignettes.

Hunter follows the classic tale of Mother Goose pretty closely, the panto opens on Mother Goose (Barrie himself) on her last day as manager of McGregory’s goose farm. Retirement is looking bright until the kindly Gregory McGregory (Sean Hay) abruptly announces the sale of the farm to the odious, and frankly quite psychotic Greta Garbage (Helen Logan).

What follows is a tale of illegal imprisonment, animal cruelty, and the unlikely virtues of one particularly magical, and talking goose: Gloria, played by a charming and multi-talented Naomi Stirrat.

“Refreshingly, his production is far more concerned with its larger-than-life adventure story than setting up quasi stand-up sets or stand alone pop-culture comedy vignettes.”

The first act of Mother Goose is a breath of fresh air in panto-land, full of bad jokes and re-worked pop and musical theatre mash-ups, but unafraid to introduce a little threat into proceedings – bravo Barrie Hunter! I haven’t seen a villain as brazenly hated by an audience as Helen Logan’s grinning sociopath, whether locking up her delightful daughter Gaia (Bethany Tennick), or giving it to the audience with both barrels. It’s a terrific turn, deserving of every boo.

Prompted by Garbage’s endless turpitude, the drama continually escalates, taking our pals, including would-be BBC Springwatch presenter Grayson (Ewan Somers) from eviction into exile, unexpected golden-egg based wealth, and a prison camp as they seek to rescue the farm from the grips of the villain. Hunter certainly evokes a great deal of warmth, as well as chuckles, from the banter between ‘retired’ farm manager, son and their surprising goose.

There’s also a fabulous message latent in the revelation of Gloria’s ability to speak. ‘You’re invisible until someone asks your opinion’ explains the goose, immediately layering the panto with more meaning than the usual ‘be kind’ generalisations.

**Barrie Hunter and the Ensemble of Mother Goose – © Mihaela Bodlovic**

The world they journey through, designed by Becky Minto is utterly excellent, the set framed in soaring, barn-like beams, and occupied by genuinely impressive physical props. The costuming cracking as well, the well-finished designs rendered in vivid but not lurid colours. The result isn’t a world away from Aardman’s beloved Chicken Run (the first one).

Don’t let my relief at a panto with a significant threat level deceive you however, Mother Goose is still absolutely packed with song and dance number, and a solid run of fart jokes. Hunter can tell a dad joke as well as the best, and Sean Hay’s adorably bumbling dope makes merry with is best pal, a pie. Yes, a pie.

The all-singing, all-dancing community ensemble, bolstered by chirrupt professionals Rebecca Williamson and Robin Campbell certainly help make numbers plucked from Chicago and the charts present, and past, look and sound fantastic.

“The first act of Mother Goose is a breath of fresh air in panto-land, full of bad jokes and re-worked pop and musical theatre mash-ups, but unafraid to introduce a little threat into proceedings.”

On top of that, musical Director Alan Penman, certainly knows how to get the most of a great three-piece band, and a cast featuring several extremely strong vocalists. Logan, Stirrat and Tennick are no strangers to either the musical theatre stage or the recording studio. To waste their talents would be a crime, but it’s one Mother Goose is innocent of. It’s not just anyone who can take on Umberto Tozzi’s ‘Gloria’ or Natasha Bedingfield’s 3-range octave demanding ‘Unwritten’ as Stirrat and Tennick do respectively.

If the second act didn’t cascade quite so quickly to the happy ending, this could well be the best straight-up panto on offer in Scotland this year. As it is, it’s still more than worth travelling to Perth for. They even throw sweets at the audience by cleverly substituting injury-causing (did they ever?) boiled sweets, and chewits for flumps! Kudos to the show for resurrecting this much-missed cultural phenomenon! Viva Barrie Hunter’s adventurous Mother Goose! Viva throwing sweeties at kids.

Featured Image: Ewan Somers, Naomi Stirrat, and Barrie Hunter in Mother Goose – photo by Mihaela Bodlovic