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The Review - THEATRE by ANGELA COBBINAH
Published: 25 December 2008

Hackney’s dame for a laugh

MOTHER GOOSE
Hackney Empire

ODDLY enough the global credit crunch that threatens to consign most of us to the Dark Ages never got a look in at this year’s Hackney Empire panto, despite a goose wandering around the stage laying golden eggs.
The closest we got to it was a crack about Bradford & Bingley claiming to be made for each other, leaving a tired old Weakest Link joke to fly the flag of topicality.
It was an indication that Mother Goose, the tenth panto written and directed by Sue McKenna for the Hackney Empire, did not quite hit the dizzy heights achieved by its predecessors even though it looked well pleased with itself, with the actors sometimes laughing at their own jokes.
Still, McKenna’s successful formula of great songs, an exuberant cast and street chic meets olde worlde managed to work their familiar magic and the crowd was clearly loving it, so what the hell.
Clive Rowe as Mother Goose once again proved he is the ultimate Pantomime Dame, holding the whole show together with his commanding presence, cheeky persona and outrageous costumes.
The familiar Hackney panto cast of Tameka Empson, Kat B and Anthony Whittle are as hilarious as ever but the icing on the cake has to be the silvery vocals of Sharon D Clarke, as Fairy Godmother. The Holby City star belted out a series of stunners that left the audience doubly appreciative.
Until January 10
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