Bristol Hippodrome Theatre Review: Mother Goose
Show Summary
Rating: ★★★★
Running Dates: Wednesday 12th April - Sunday 16th April
Where to see it: Bristol Hippodrome
Duration: 2 hours 35 minutes (including interval
Keywords: Absurd, energetic, Panto-esque
‘Mother Goose’ Review
The original Mother Goose story was written back in 1902; the jam-packed theatre on a Wednesday afternoon in 2023 is testament to the performance’s magic!
The production features significant star power, with TV personality Gabriel Fleary and the legend of film and stage, Sir Ian McKellen! John Bishop is another famous face, starring alongside McKellen, albeit he will be absent from the initial performances.
Stepping into the limelight and filling in for John Bishop, Gabriel Fleary played Vic Goose, the gentle and charming husband of Mother Goose. Fleary opened the show with a warm welcome which felt personal to the audience and gave an insight into the pun-tastic tale that was about to unfold.
As for McKellen, it was a delight to experience his aura on stage! McKellen seems to be able to mould into any and all roles and give a convincing and gripping portrayal. From tear-jerking Shakespearean monologues to stripping off his padded bra for all to see, the man can do it all! The performance capitalises on McKellen’s fame and the audience’s hunger with references to his top credits sprinkled throughout.
Act One begins by introducing the embodiment of good and evil and poses an age-old question - is anybody truly good? Can even the purest of souls be corrupted? With the wager placed, we are introduced to a funny, furry, feathery family that is Mother Goose’s Animal Sanctuary! Each animal had a unique personality which shines through; their costumes were simplistic yet demonstrative of their lowly and outsider background.
Act Two opens with high-energy and impressive set design! The performance goes beyond typical Pantomime tropes with increased audience participation and one surprise after another. Would you expect inflatable footballs to reign down from the Gods? No, neither did we! The latter half of the performance sees some big musical numbers to well-known songs - guaranteed to get everyone’s feet tapping.
The humour adopted throughout the show was spot-on. Particular members of the cast were laugh-out-loud funny; Oscar Conlon-Morrey, in his portrayal of Jack Goose, displayed riotous physical comedy and comedic timing. Beyond this, the performance delivered jokes for all audiences, from classic word-play to satirical political commentary.
For Panto-fans, this performance is a must-see! If you are looking for a fairytale-esque story with charming characters, constant belly-laughter and an absurd twist around every corner, you don’t need to wait until Pantomime season arrives in Winter!
The show is running until the 16th of April so grab your ticket soon!
Standout Quote or Moment: the entire audience up on their feet - singing and dancing to Sweet Caroline!
See If: you can catch the sweets…
Similar Plays: any classic pantomime!
Last Impression: An absurd yet magical journey featuring loveable characters and pure good vibes.
Written by Chelsea Peel