Panto review: Beauty and the Beast at the Everyman pays tribute to legendary Cork shopowner
Fionula Linehan as Peggy Twomey and Andrew Lane as Johnny La Fool in the Beauty and the Beast panto at the Everyman in Cork. Picture: Darragh Kane
You can't get much more Cork than Peg Twomey's stall on the Coal Quay. So it's only fitting that the most Corkified panto ever has their Dame named after the late, great shopkeeper.
"Who's in the house?"
"PEGGY'S IN THE HOUSE!"
Fionula Linehan careens into the corset to perform as the first female panto Dame - proving women really can do it all.
Peggy sets the tone as soon as she scoots saucily on stage. She's fun, she's feisty, and she's a right old doll. She's Belle's mam - she loves her to the moon and back. Accessorised with a massive Barry's Tea brooch and a copy of De Echo, Peggy goes cycling to Youghal when she gets lost and ends up in Beast's castle.
An empty gaff in this housing crisis? She's only weak for herself, until the crazy characters in the house get her all in a tizzy. We meet a talking clock (called Shandon, obviously), Sparky Looney, a camp candelabra who literally lights up the stage (he's my favourite, don't tell anyone) and much to the delight of my four-year-old panto pal, it's Barbie! Irene Warren is plastic-fantastic as the rollerskating cupid who helps Beast woo Belle (the marvellous Marion Goggin).
Backed by a terrific ensemble and steady sound and lighting design, this panto is a riot of colour, with classic characters who know exactly how to get the audience going. There's plenty of 'He's Behind You!' and 'Oh Yes He Is!' to keep the adults guffawing and the sugar-fuelled kids roaring.
The costumes are incredible - the scene where Pádraic Di Fusco's honey voiced Beast transforms into Prince William is pure magic.
Funniest character? It's a toss up between Andrew Lane's Johnny La Fool and Michael Sands' Gaston (or Gasbag as Peggy likes to call him). When he slips from his sauve Hollywood drawl into a thick Northside accent, the audience howls.
A couple of gags do fall flat - there's a bit about bin etiquette that leaves the younger members of the audience confused. But overall Beauty and the Beast is a rollicking family night out that ends with a stomping dance routine that gets the whole building boogying. But sure don't we all know, Cork rocks, like.
Until January 14.
Evenings 7pm; with weekend shows at 11.30am, 3.30pm and 7.30pm.
Our show kicks off promptly at 7pm and ends on the dot at 10pm, with an interval.
From €35, Terrific Thursday €29, family of four €124 (plus booking fees)
The run includes an audio-described performance with touch tour on Jan 5, an ISL-interpreted performance on Jan 6, and a relaxed performance on Jan 14. Email access@everymancork.com, or call 021-4501780.
Tickets from www.everymancork.com
