Panto season has been transformed by the newest iteration of hilariously camp melodrama: Jewish panto. Everything about panto screams over-the-top and theatrical silliness, and Goldie Frocks and The Bear Mitzvah really got the memo! With a stellar group of cast and creatives, the show is a dizzying and action-packed experience, loaded with whimsy storytelling, groan-inducing puns, and entertainment for all the family.
The story follows Baby Bear (Frankie Thompson), an unconfident cub, who is about to embark on his next chapter as the Bear Mitzvah looms. Painstakingly organised by over-bearing (had to throw in a bear pun at some point!) Mama Behr (Debbie Chazen), the main plot is seamlessly developed, and leaves the audience gripped in seeing the story to the end. Panto always features multiple threads in the story, and the show quickly introduces a counter plot on the other side of the script, waiting patiently for its moment to merge.
The megalomaniac antagonist Calvin Brine (Simon Yadoo) is plotting away to crash the Bear Mitzvah Bash, and enlists the unwilling support of Goldie Frocks (Heloise Lowenthal), who is overworked but always inclined to help her equally stretched co-workers out (David Ellis and Yael Elisheva).
The set design and lighting throws the audience into the story at the earliest opportunity, with the traditional curtain call adorned with multicoloured diamonds. Costumes are equally as over-the-top, like Morris Bloom’s excellent Pearly Kings suit donned with buttons, or Calvin Brine’s garish animal print clashes.
Studded across the show are your classic Panto tropes: booing, hissing and cheering, audience participation, “He’s behind you!”, a benevolent Ghost with a few magic tricks (Ian Saville), gender bending casts, the messy ‘slosh’ scenes, and of course, rewritten songs and lyrics. The show’s house band (Josh Middleton, Christina Borgenstierna and Daniel Gouly) fit into the rich tapestry where worlds have collided, as all of these traditional elements have the added layer of Jewish culture.
With everything from Yiddish, historical nods to Jewish Fashion makers and London’s rich Jewish heritage, as well as the gruelling schedule of planning Simchahs, the creative team have excelled in putting together a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously, is paced just right, and truly stands out amongst the multitudes of Panto offerings in the capital. JW3 even provides a glossary of terms that may be unfamiliar to non-Jewish audiences for accessibility, but it does certainly feel like the show relies heavily on niche knowledge. One may consider brushing up on your Yiddish dictionary before-hand.
Goldie Frocks and The Bear Mitzvah will be showing at JW3 until the 5th January, and is probably one of the only shows running on Christmas Day, so get your bear-paws on tickets whilst the Chicken Soup is still hot!
★★★★☆ (4*)
Photography by Eamonn B Shanahan
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