Oh, the weather outside was frightful. Much like the hair-don’t of Craig Glover’s fabulously funny Sadie which in the stand-out scene of Act One was transformed from garish locks to a nightmarish shock of black by John Winchester’s gloriously goofy Buttons.

But the weather vane of opinion inside the newly refurbished Falkirk Town Hall towards the Community Trust’s inaugural professional pantomime co-produced with Imagine Theatre was, judging by the warm reception to the I’m A Believer curtain call, delightful.

Penned by panto veteran Alan McHugh who much to the rib-tickling satisfaction of the local crowd shoe-horned in as many references to the surrounding villages as Sadie and his clarty midden of a sister Senga (Derek McGhie in boisterously buoyant form) traded one-liners: Did you find the Gypsy’s camp? No, I thought they were pretty butch!

And directed with pace, vigour and slickness by Stuart Bird who along with choreographer and fellow bairn Lainie Baird put the twelve-strong cast and radiant junior ensemble through their panto paces faster than the flying forehead of Eric Joyce towards the startled gaze of a Tory MP.

Cinderella (the title role played with sweet simplicity by Christie Gowans) is a fine family-friendly pantomime which with its winning mix of naughty and nice will appeal to those both long in the tooth and short in years.

However, unlike the wheels of the airborne carriage which whisk Cinderella away to the ball at the close of Act One, there are a few cogs in need of an oiling. Most of which will turn more smoothly once the cast and crew get a few more shows under their belts, connect with the audience and take Janice Galloway’s advice to breathe.

Barbara Bryceland as Fairy Babs doesn’t so much enter in a puff of smoke: more the last draw of a doup. And her delivery of the rhyming couplet dialogue is at times stilted. In stark contrast to her wonderful singing voice which shines and soars like a shooting star. In what is, it should be noted, her panto debut alongside experienced performers such as Sally Howitt who revels in the boo-hissing badness of Baroness Demonica.

Though judging by the natural warmth and good humour which Barbara exudes when the script goes south (as it did on several hilarious occasions – the most memorable being Craig Glover’s timely dig at Scotrail whose service he says is worse than that of his impromptu sliding chair because “at least I went somewhere”), she like Cinderella will grow into her panto slippers.

As will Adam Morgan as the fit (if at times flat) Prince Charming; and Scott Watson as his sidekick Dandini whose energy and drive is sorely missing down the flanks at Falkirk Stadium.

A feel-good first panto for Falkirk Community Trust – and hopefully not the last – bolstered by a fine two-man band in the shape of Colin McGibbon on drums and musical director Darren Webster on keys, which, to quote the bumbling Buttons, I wish all the best “from the heart of my bottom”.

Peter Callaghan
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