It’s Panto Time! Wellington Pantomime Group are in the final stages of rehearsals for a production which aims to disperse winter gloom and scatter twinkly, tickly stardust – liberally – over audiences at The Wellesley next week. And it will make them laugh – a lot!
This year it’s ‘Puss in Boots’ – and, to avoid confusion for those who expect a cat, boots, a Princess, a pauper and a love affair, they’re all there – but just not quite in the way you expect!
We’re off to Holland, to old Amsterdam, the land of tulips, clogs and windmills. The country is ruled over by the pompous King Bulbo and his dotty wife Queen Tulip who have a beautiful daughter, Daffodil, and a very snooty Major Domo, Lord Edam.
However, there’s evil lurking in the form of Doctor Frankenstein and his nasty minions, Blackleather and monster Klonk Nutbolt who cause mayhem amongst the good people of Amsterdam.
Meanwhile, there’s an old mill by a stream run by the Miller family – that’s Glenys, Maxine and their brother Arthur – who has a cat. Blackleather nobbles Glen and Max to work for him but, with a little help from a passing cobbler and a magic pair of boots, Arthur’s cat is transformed and there follows a breathless, zany escapade through various parts of old Amsterdam.
This new improved ‘Puss in Boots’ is a fast-paced antic, delivered to delight with the group’s traditional verve, energy and panache. There are big songs, slick dance routines, bad jokes, daftness, exuberance, mayhem, heroes, villains, clowns – and pure entertainment in pure panto style. It will be fun! Definitely!
Tickets are going fast so book – now.
‘Puss in Boots’ is at The Wellesley as follows:
Wednesday 25th January at 7.30pm
Thursday 26th January at 7.30pm
Friday 27th January at 7.30pm
Saturday 28th January at 10.00am, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Sunday 29th January at 12.30pm
Tickets from the Box Office (0844 997 9000), from ‘Odette’s Tea Room in the High Street, Wellington and online from Wellington Arts Association website.