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Mother Goose is the 10th anniversary pantomime at Hackney Empire in east London, for the 2008-2009 Christmas season.

Mother Goose is so poor she "can't afford to pay attention" but when she is given a goose that lays golden eggs does she have everything she wants? (No!) She still craves youth and beauty but what would she do to get it? This is a fun adaptation with plenty of laughs for all the family.

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Pros

• As ever, excellent costumes, set design & choreography
• Plenty of original songs
• Dancing skeletons
• Don't miss the start of the Second Act or you won't see the amazing giant!

Cons

• Non-lead character's make-up was a bit weak
• Some songs were a little too long

Description

• Address:
  Hackney Empire
  291 Mare Street
  London
  E8 1EJ
• Box Office Telephone:
  020 8985 2424
• Official Website:www.hackneyempire.co.uk
• 2009 Pantomime Review:Aladdin
• 2008 Pantomime Review:Mother Goose
• 2007 Pantomime Review:Dick Whittington & His Cat
• 2006 Pantomime Review:Cinderella
• Panto stars are banned from throwing sweets (health & safety!) so Rowe comes down into the Stalls and meets the audience too.

Guide Review - Hackney Empire: Mother Goose Pantomime Review

People who don't go to the theater all year will still book regularly for the annual Hackney Empire pantomime. Why? Because it's just as good as anything in the West End, tickets are well-priced, and the characters are always hilarious. Clive Rowe is back as the lead, Mother Goose, and had us rolling about in our seats.

There were a few times when he too found it hard to stop laughing which made the other actors giggle and the audience crease up. He just has one of those faces; if he raised his eyebrows my daughter screamed with laughter.

There is a full chorus of nursery rhyme characters such as Goldilocks, Little Red Riding Hood, and Bo Peep whose sheep were played by talented local children.

Susie McKenna knows her audience well and includes plenty of references to local places and events. Mother Goose lived in Hackneytopia and the 2012 Olympics got a mention as it will be held in the area. Tameka Empson Freda, the niece of Baron Bonkers, did an excellent parody of the way local girls speak and dress, "innit". (I teach at the local community college so know she got it just right.) There were lots of mentions for popular TV shows and pop stars from the year and it felt like McKenna had managed to do a round-up of 2008 for us within a pantomime format.

The show lasts about 3 hours, with a 15 min interval. As ever, the Second Act includes a song to learn, a dance for the audience to do, birthday announcements and a real party atmosphere. My daughter danced all the way home so I know it was a hit.

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