Stage Review Mother Goose at Leicester Curve

Ian McKellen in Mother Goose

Tour 2022/23

Photograph by Manuel Harlan

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Mother Goose

Written by Jonathan Harvey

Directed by Cal McCrystal


Main players Ian McKellen and John Bishop

Oscar Conlon-Morrey as Jack and Ian McKellern as Mother Goose
Photograph by Manuel Harlan

The Mother Goose show opened in Brighton early December 2022, and continues to tour until mid April 2023, following the older tradition of long running christmas pantomimes. The show feels fresh however; it feels like a party!

A variety of phrases in the script call for audience response, and so this is a wonderful conventional piece of the genre. This is no straight forward panto, there is much, much more, with various aspects of stage performance injecting delight and maintaining a happy mood throughout, and in relaxed and unfussy ways almost; a professional production.

We see a mix of animals, with hand puppets and props. Movement is energetic, flexible, and sometimes graceful: with modern day and classical dance moves to pop and showtime tunes, with all the cast performing together in specially choreographed styles. The poise of Genevieve Nicole and Anna-Jane Casey, duly noted.

 Sharon Ballard (Encanta) and Karen Mavundukure (Malignia)
Photograph by Manuel Harlan

Highlights include robust solo singing, and all cast members are singers who demonstrate a fine array of vocal talent. Oscar Conlon-Morrey as Jack possesses an impressive vocal range and is one serious trained singer underneath all the play acting, however, the special highlight is a complete solo song and dance number by Anna-Jane Casey as Cilla Quack - what a surprise! Exceptional.

Pictured is Adam Brown as King of Gooseland

and Anna-Jane Casey as Cilla Quack

Photograph by Manuel Harlan

The comedy comes in great swaves of wonderfully silly moments by Ian McKellen particularly, Adam Brown is comical, as both Goat and the King of Gooseland, and the dead pan approach of Richard Leeming as Bat makes both the children and the adults chuckle. The humour overall includes political reference and current news mentions that are tongue- in-cheek topical. There is innuendo in the content, saucy, but subtle.

John Bishop in Mother Goose
Photograph by Manuel Harlan

Of course, McKellen is just great, and a real trouper playing the lead role. His dame costumes are fabulous, the make-up, wigs and accessories, it feels such a treat to see McKellen perform and him making the most of the absurd. Bishop is both compere as his true self, and is an amusing Vic Goose in character. Bishop is understated, yet impressive, and really keeps the show rolling. Both Bishop and McKellen are fabulous together, and have great rapport.


Mother Goose is showing at Leicester's Curve Theatre until Sunday 19th. Check the website for future tour dates.

**ENDS**

Review by theatre critic, Debra Hall who attended press night of Mother Goose at The Curve Theatre, Leicester on Wednesday 15 March at 7.00pm


References

Programme Mother Goose (2022)

Leicester Curve's Mother Goose Press Release e-mail 15 March 2023 with production photography


https://www.google.com/