The decorations are going up in the shops and the Christmas carols are a-carolling … a prickle of pre- Christmas excitement ran through the audience at the @JoburgTheatre this week as the PANTO came to town!
Writer/director @JaniceHoneyman has been making magic for 38 years with her pantomime productions and this year’s “little toy boy” #Pinocchio was certainly among her best to date.
Unforgettable characters included:
- Bella Boubalina (@GinaSchmuckler)
- Madame Pussy Galore and Madame Ill’ Fortunato (my two favourite characters quite deliciously played by @CamillaWaldman and @BrendaRadloff!)
- Dame Arletti Spaghetti (@TiaanRautenbach)
- Lampwick Spaghetti (@Lesedi Rich)
- Luciano Panzarotti (@LucianoZuppa)
- Geppetto Spoletto (@BongiArchi )
- Jiminy Cricket (@SandiDlangalala)
- Senor Napolio Strombolio (the arch villain @MarkRichardson. Boooo!)
- Pinocchio (@KatlegoNche)
- Dainty Dolly (@Noluthando Mathebula)
It was all jolly good fun with more than the usual quota of villains we all love to hate!
The uproarious slapstick was helped out by:
– Copious front row squirting with a water gun;
– A live band led by @DaleRayOfficial;
-Sensational costumes by @MariskaMeyer;
– Incredible special effects and AV;
– An amazing set design by @EnosRamoroko;
– A wonderfully talented and enthusiastic young cast;
– Broad adult references for the older members of the audience;
– A musical medley second to none, with the universal favourite being “Under the Sea”;
-Showers of sweets from @BroadwaySweets to give the necessary Sunday night sugar spike;
– Chuckles and squeals from the young members of the audience.
Enjoying the non-stop fun, fun, fun and discovering their inner child at the opening night were @DaphneKuhn from @TheatreontheSquare, @MairiSurteesCameron, PR @BronwenKerry, owner of the Majestic DVD shop in Greenside @HenniErasmus, influencers @LeannePon, @LeeRoyWright and “fragrance queen” @LizFerrett, @CollettDawson, @BryanHill and the inimitable @FionaRamsay who I miss as a panto villain (she told me “you lose loads of weight when you do the panto”!)
The panto runs right through the festive season so book now at Webticket to get your seats at the “Joburgio Teatro”.
#Pinocchio #pantomime #Joburg Theatre #Janine Honeyman #festive season #Christmas fun
