Review: Wicked Witches - A Popular Panto (Pleasance Theatre)

Review by Sam Waite

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Alongside the traditional collection of tales, the modern pantomime has evolved into new forms to match the ever-changing cultural landscape in which they are performed. Just a few years ago, the Park Theatre’s Rumpelstiltskin seemed to be following the trend of reevaluating classic villains, and with this tragic backstory theming still going strong across the media landscape, it was only a matter of time until a certain pink and green cultural icon got the panto treatment. Thus, we find ourselves in the land of Oz-lington for this years’ Pleasance Theatre offering, Wicked Witches: A Popular Panto.

Inspired by Maguire’s novel/Holzman and Schwartz’s musical/Chu’s Hollywood blockbusters, Wicked Witchesfinds the land threatened by a frightful storm, The Blizzard of Oz-lington, with a newly upgraded Tin wishing a certain gingham-gowned friend could return to lend a hand. Soon enough, all-grown-up and proudly non-binary Dor is blown back in from Kansas and en route to the Emerald City to seek the help of Kelly, the Oz-born Good Witch, who of course sends the duo to vanquish her sworn enemy, the wickedly talented, one and only… Adelphaba Dazeem.

High among the selling points of this festive return to Oz, performed alternately as a family-friendly affair and a more foul-minded adults-only variant, are the special guests making appearances via pre-recorded video calls to Dor and pals. MP Jeremy Corbyn is happy to make jokes at his own expense, his Wizard of Oz-lington apologies that he can’t be there to help as he’s occupied planning a party, a harder task than anticipated, before advising that they take a path neither too wrong nor “too far right.” “Sounds like a load of centrist b*******,” quips Tin. Hilarious in his act two appearance is Sir Ian McKellen as Toto, frontman of rock outfit The Rolling Bones – Sabrina Barkenter and Snoop Dogg are namechecked among the bandmates – who can’t help but share is love of the movie Cats. Fine cast, he says, can’t fault any of them… except James Corden.

As you’d expect, the script combines classic “he’s behind you” tomfoolery with pop culture references both old and new… ish. Though some of it was tired and already dated (“WAP” jokes existing alongside a KPop Demon Hunters cover felt like two disparate eras, time flying as fast as it does) there was no doubt that the gaggle of girls, gays and theys making up the bulk of the audience were along for every second of Wicked Witches’ ride. From references to Pooja’s behaviour to Kelly shrieking that Adelphaba should go back to Party City, the crowd were in stitches countless times throughout press night.

Admittedly, the plot just kind of happens as is required of the next set of jokes, but the show is far from the first pantomime to stretch itself thin to reach the next gag. Shane ShayShay Konno, both the show’s writer and its director, clearly knows what kind of show this is, and offers no pretence that we ought to take things too seriously. There’s a knowingness to the whole thing, a cheeky wink that reminds us that we’re there for a good time, to have a laugh within a safe, openminded space. True, the plot isn’t the most memorable and the nods to Wicked do wear thin after a while, but it's so hard to care when everyone is having such an infectiously good time.

Outfitted in magnificent costumes from Isabela Van Brackel and Cieranna Kennedy-Bell, the onstage cast are a cheerful and likable bunch, with plenty of talent to match their boundless enthusiasm. For playing such extraordinary characters, Lew Ray and Nick MacDuff bring a great deal of humanity to their work, with Ray’s surprisingly grounded work as Tin bringing a grace and dignity to her acknowledgement of her gender identity, and MacDuff going through an affable and fully engaging arc as the clumsy but lovable Scarecrow. Rounding out the classic yellow brick crew, alongside a Lion hand-puppet commanded by MacDuff, Ro Suppa is boisterous and brilliant as Dor. Bouncing off of both the audience and the rest of the cast, Suppa is engaging, endearing, and totally at home in the role.

The real standouts are, of course, the witches themselves. As emotionally torn as in the musical Wicked (and as clearly sapphic as in Maguire’s 1995 novel) the pair give grand, joyfully over-the-top performances, perfectly matched in their roles. As the Oz-born Kelly, Eleanor Burke is striking from the character’s first appearance– selfish, shrill, and shirking her responsibilities to the safety of Oz. Covering High School Musical 2’s “Fabulous” with a deliberately cloying, totally effective girlishness, Burke is utterly magnificent. Particularly strong is Gigi Zahir, regal and relentlessly funny as Wicked Witch Adelphaba, bringing poise and precision to the endless array of jokes assigned to them. With that perfect blend of comedic timing and vocal skill, Zahir is absolutely made for pantomimes.

And therein lies my main disappointment with A Popular Panto. With a fine set of voices, particularly Zahir’s, and some fun contributions from music supervisor and arranger Rudy Percival, Wicked Witches proves to be very light on the music front. The jokes about touching Tin’s “WAP” are numerous, but any anticipation to hear the song lead to disappointment, and only a couple of truncated musical numbers find their way into the performance. Obviously, this isn’t a major problem, and the show was hardly advertised as a song-heavy spectacular, but with one of Broadway and the West End’s most famous musicals as the chief inspiration, it seems a shame to not have more musical witches take to Islington for the holiday season.

With a wickedly talented cast and a clear understanding of just who the audience for this production is, Wicked Witches: A Popular Panto is sure to live up to its subtitle. Packed with Queer joy and with a cast littered with non-binary finery, this is a bright, whimsical revisit to a much-loved land, managing to spoof the global spectacular while forging an identity all its own.

Wicked Witches: A Popular Panto plays at the Pleasance Theatre until December 22^nd

For tickets and information visit https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/wicked-witches-panto-adults

Photos by Ella Carmen Dale