Welcome to Lidlpool, where Cash and Carry (Andrew Schofield and Keddy Sutton) are snide schemers, disguising themselves as werewolves as one of their many plans to scare Grandma (Lindzi Germain) out of her cottage to flatten it and make way for St John's Car Park. In the meantime, Red (Lydia Rosa Morales Scully) and her faithful friend Blue (Adam McCoy) set off on a mission to fly up to the moon and paint it black to prevent the people of Lidlpool turning into werewolves and to save Grandma.
Written by Kevin Fearon and directed by Mark Chatterton, this production heavily leans into a chaotic and raucous storyline, but with so many plot twists and too many elements happening all at once, it can often lead to the show feeling a little jarring at times. Add in an extra layer of a play within a play element, which did provide many humorous moments, the jokes that landed the best were oftentimes the ones related to local humour, which feels a little alienating to a non-local.
The cast are sublime, and each individual makes their mark. Morales Scully and McCoy lean into the innocence and naivety of young friends, and together they have great chemistry and really impress with their vocal abilities. Germain is an absolute riot as Grandma, and could not be any further away from the traditional frail Grandma we often hear about from this traditional tale. Alongside Liam Tobin as Bob the Builder, the duo heavily lean into the sexual innuendos that one would expect from such a raucous adult panto, as the pair embark on a viagra high. Sutton and Schofield are hilarious as panto villains, and really ham up the pantoesque physical comedy - however, it is Schofield that gives the stand out performance with his impeccable ad-libbing and different characterisations that made this reviewer howl with laughter (pun absolutely intended).
An honourable mention must also be given to both Emma-Grace Arends (vocalist) and Chantel Cole (vocalist and plays the role of 'stage manager') who both give incredible vocal performances throughout. The band (Ben Gladwin, Jack Hymers, Greg Joy, Chris Nicholls and Mike Woodvine) are punchy and high-energy throughout.
Ellie Light's set design truly stands out in this projection, with a revolving 3D set that moves the story along seamlessly. With the added layer of Ian Scott's lighting design, the show is visually stunning. Kate Harvey's sound design and Jamie Jenkin's video design are both effective in creating the entertainment value.
Overall, Scouse Red Riding Hood as it stands, is enough to entertain and delight audiences over the festive period. However, whilst you don't usually go to a pantomime expecting an enriched storyline or plot, unfortunately it feels like there is something slightly missing from this production. Regardless, the stunning visual design and incredible cast absolutely make a visit to the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool during the festive period, worthwhile.
Scouse Red Riding Hood runs at the Royal Court until 18th January - for more information and tickets, you can follow the link here.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | photography by Atanas Paskalev
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