Panto review: Into the woods with Red Riding Hood at the Everyman
Fionula Linehan as Peggy Twomey in Red Riding Hood at The Everyman. Pictures: Darragh Kane
What’s a villain that Cork audiences can really gang up on? Why a shady businessman from Dublin, of course.
That’s the foul foe we meet in at the Everyman, where Red, her best friend Pip and her granny, entrepreneur and Coal Quay legend Peggy Twomey, are threatened by the big bad wolf himself, Deco from Dublin.
Luckily they have a few friends on their side to defend granny’s business from Deco’s scheming, including Pana the poodle, Jack the Woodcutter, and Red’s imaginary friend Boo-Boo.
The Corkisms are out in force, with everyone from Roy Keane to the Kabin Crew referenced and there are TikTok nods aplenty thrown in too to keep the social media savvy viewers engaged — a ‘live-streamed’ TikTok dance was one such moment that drew gasps from little viewers.
The 29th panto directed and produced by Catherine Mahon-Buckley, includes a talented cast of singers and dancers who shine in ensemble numbers like the opening tune ‘One Short Day’ from hit stage musical-turned-movie Wicked.
Musical fans will enjoy other nods to the genre, including when panto villain Michael Sands as Deco proves his chops with a wolfish rendition of ‘Hello Little Girl’ from Stephen Sondheim’s . So nefarious was Sands’ performance that one boy was heard heckling “get off the stage” every time he started to show his claws to poor Granny Peggy.
Pop fans are well catered for too with the likes of ‘Hot To Go’ and ‘The Spark’ proving a hit with the crowd, and Swift-mania is rampant among the cast. However grown-ups in the audience might be surprised to be the only ones to appreciate other tunes: little ones sitting in front of me were quick to chat among themselves and loudly state “I don’t get it” when the show’s village people appeared to the sound of ‘YMCA’ and dressed to match the 1978 song.
But there are some good topical jokes to keep the grown-ups chuckling, from bike shed costs and Lennox’s closure to a quick line about the scariest thing you could open your door to this winter: canvassers!
The main cast has a great rapport and they interact well with the boys and girls in the audience, not least Fionula Linehan as Peggy Twomey who has her keen eye on a few old flames in the crowd and the Dame bounces brilliant replies back to the boys and girls piping up from the audience.
Robyn O’Riordan is noteworthy as Red, delivering comic and sentimental songs and scenes beautifully. Graham McDermott as Pana the poodle is a real star, giving the audience many diva-worthy moments and his antics are a quick hit.
is a fun romp through the woods for all the family and while there are some scenes that could do with a little tightening and tweaking, its most impressive feat is holding the attention of kids (and adults!) for just over two hours in a world of TikTok, Instagram and entertainment on demand. Truly a Christmas miracle — oh yes it is!
- runs at the Everyman until January 12. Tickets €37 | Terrific Thursdays & Fantastic Friday €29 | Relaxed performance €25. Family pass €134.
