Review: Beauty and the Beast

Liberty Hall Theatre, Dublin

The Liberty Hall pantomime has become one of the most eagerly awaited shows of the season in Dublin. This year's fairytale has all the magical elements required - a beautiful young woman, Belle (Sinead Mulvey), an arrogant lover, Garson (Jonathan McCrea), a fearsome beast (Shane Morgan) who turns back into a handsome prince and two funny characters who keep the adults on board with contemporary jokes (Mary Harney, Eamon Dunphy, Tony Blair and George Bush all get a mention).

The problem with this year's show is that the two sidekicks - Sammy Sausages (Alan Hughes) and Buffy Potty (the inimitable Joe Conlon) - take over the show just a little too much. We still love you Buffy, your camp manoeuvres and gift for posh accents, but could you leave a little space for the others? One of the children with me asked which one was the Beast because he hadn't even appeared on stage halfway through the first act.

In the second act, all the magic of a fairytale unfolded with perfect timing and pathos in the scene when Belle and the Beast prepare to have dinner together.

Director Simon Delaney harmoniously blends newcomers - Jonathan McCrea, Louise Loughman (as Latoyah, Belle's "glamour puss" sister), P.J. Dunlevy (as Randolph, Belle's inventor father) and Shane Morgan - with the regular pantomime performers - Alan Hughes, Joe Conlon and Sinead Mulvey. Brenda Donohue, due to be Belle's other sister, Lutricia, had to pull out of the show at the last minute and while Liz Lloyd ably took her place, one feels Donohue might have been a good counterbalance to Buffy's indomitable presence.

The young dancers and singers from the Adele King Theatre School, Helen Jordan Stage School, Kidkast Stage School and Spotlight Stage School add that energising all-dancing, all-singing dimension that every pantomime needs. Boy band Final Four boosted the celebrity element. And the show was brought to a rousing finale with all the cast on stage singing a medley of Abba songs. It's a great night out ("Oh no it isn't"), but it should be kept in mind that the main audience is aged between four and 12.

* Runs until January 30th.