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26 • Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com CMBA The Champion • Wednesday 11 December 2013You may qualify for a FREE boiler.If you, or a member of your household,receive one of the following: If you meet this criteria you may beeligible for a new FREE “A” rated boilerFREE under theDon’t cha wishyour boiler washot like me?With 10 years parts & labour coverNo depositonly£19 .99 per monthGo to www.theheatteam.co.ukor call 0151 329 02211119875
The Champion • Wednesday 11 December 2013CMBAVisit us @ www.ChampNews.com • 27This was a Christmasshow not to be missedReview by• Aladdin ... It’s Raining Zen!• Liverpool Playhouse – November 29 toJanuary 18 2014I’VE seen some pantos in my time but this onesurpasses them all!Billed as the biggest, brightest and mostmagical rock ‘n’ roll panto in the universe thisis no exaggeration. Writers Sarah A Nixon andMark Chatterton (who also wowed us with hisinventive direction) have surpassedthemselves with a gem of a script scatteredwith, much as you might expect, a liberal doseof local humour.There is no magic carpet – no slapstick – noWidow Twankey – and no tribe of childrentrooping on to the stage to join in thesing–song. Instead there is imagination,stunning special effects, an oversized flyingshrimp (oh yes there is!) and a celebration ofall that is good in the theatre ... with, of course,the inevitable water pistols!Spirit Blue flies in to take the magic lamp; thestory unfolds telling of the endeavours toretrieve it before deadly powers are released.Unrecognisable from his role in Di is Dead,Francis Tucker shows his versatility and is asuperb Dame Lottie Longbottom.Making his professional debut Sam Haywoodis well–cast as Aladdin who has excellentchemistry with Carla Freeman as PrincesWillow. The endearing lovers succeed inoutwitting the evil ones at every turn helped byMonty the Mountie. Adam Keast endears theaudience in this role with his expertise andcomical facial expressions.No panto is complete without its wonderfulBabes in the Wood was a riotof colour, laughter and funReview byJenny Robson• Babes in the Wood – The Waterloo &Crosby Theatre Company• Starry Nights Theatre, Litherland HighSchool•December 6 to 8 and December 13 to 15THE land of Happilyeveraftershire hasarrived in Litherland! Leo Appleton haswritten and directed a wonderfullytraditional pantomime – as well asendearing the audience to his bosom as hecavorts around the stage as Dame Trot.With almost 60 cast members – most ofthem children – this is a huge undertakingbut Leo takes it in his stride. The childrenfling themselves wholeheartedly into theirroles as they play nursery rhyme charactersand merry men; they are adorable,especially young Adam Cusack and FreyaLatham as the babes Jack and Jill.Musicians Ann Dickinson, Charlie Corkinand Tony Peart play throughout with gustoand Claudia Molyneux thrills with herchoreography.Elspeth Fisher makes an outrageous FairyChristmas bedecked in glorious red andsilver and Tim Foy rises to the occasion asthe Grand Old Duke of York who is easilyconfused especially by his son, HaplessPrince Harry, playfully portrayed by LesLongley making his entrance on a pinkhorse.Gasps around the auditorium when thebabes are kidnapped by Smash (LindaHansen) and Grab (Emerald Hickey) onorders of Baron Hardaker. Feisty JosephCoyne plays up to the booing as the evilBaron but his feckless henchmen turn out tobe not so nasty after all. They have somewonderful expressions and are very funny.ENTERTAINMENTJenny RobsonSam Haywood as Aladdin & Carla Freemanas Princess Willow in Aladdin (c) TopherMcGrillisCode NAbaddies and Griffin Stevens (Scarabmanga)and Marianne Benedict (Morgana) arewonderful as they encourage the boos.The costumes, sets and special effects arestunning and the acting throughout istop–rate. Yes, there’s a bit of corpsing but thisadds to the performances.With the exceptionally–talented cast actingtheir socks off – also doubling as fineinstrumentalists to rock through the evening –this is a Christmas show not to be missed.Score 9.5/10 – Simply the best!The Babes Freya Lathom, 8, and AdamCusack, 7, with the mayor of Sefton CllrMaureen Fearn at Waterloo Lights switchInterspersed with tales of Robin Hood youcan imagine who brings the babes back tosafety. Oh yes he does! LisaDegeir–Mawdsley is a perfect Robin andthis is where romance blossoms. ErinBretherton gives an engaging performanceas Marion who, quite naturally, falls in lovewith Robin.But ... the tale does not end here!Book tickets for this laugh–out–loudheart–warming show to discover who turnsout to be the long–lost sister of the babes!(Box Office 0151 288 6752/051 924 0231)Score: 9/10–ariotofcolour, laughter andfun!Rock’roll panto in all but nameReview by• Hitchhikers Guide To Fazakerley• Royal Court TheatreTHIS show was SET in Fazakerley, home ofoffies, chippies and sunbeds and girls withorange skins, as all Scousers know.Young Billy Smith wants to get away towhere his recently deceased Grandad usedto spend a lot of his time. On Venus. So whenthe spaceship arrives, he follows it back tothe planet in his Grandad’s old Ford Anglia,modified, of course.What made this a glorious night was theempathy between the actors, most of themmembers of the so–called Royal CourtRepertory Company, ad–libbing furiouslybetween stifled giggles, cheered on by theaudience.With his real–life wife, Lyn Francis,Michael Starke did a great double act asBilly’s parents and the banter between himand the indomitable Lindzi Germaine as thestatuesque Thong, leader of the Venusians,was hilarious, as was the business with thefurry ‘dog’, Sputnik.LIPA graduate, Jack Rigby, was excellent asyoung Billy who loses most of his clothes onhis arrival in space, to the whoops of delightfrom the women present, but has thecompensation of romance in the form of thedesirable Angela Simms as Thing.Every bit as good as its predecessors, FredInvitation to Evening of Christmas MusicTHE Waterloo & Crosby Theatre Company isonce more back in the setting of thetithebarn at CHET Crosby Hall EducationalTrust], Back Lane, Little Crosby, for itsannual Evening of Christmas Music onWednesday, December 18 and Thursday,December 19.If George Osborne’s austerity programmeis getting you down this will be just the thingto get you into the true spirit of Christmaswith traditional carols, Christmas songs andamusing verse with which the audience isoften encouraged to join.Once again this year the performances willalso include some items from theCompany’s talented Youth Section.As usual the accompanist will be AnnDickinson MBE and the musical director forthis year will be the talented Charles Moss.Weavers bring festive concert to townTHE Houghton Weavers are to bring theirChristmas Show to Southport Theatre’sFloral Hall.Those who attend the concert on Tuesday,December 17 at 7.30pm are promised anevening of folk and comedy.Over the past three decades The HoughtonWeavers have recorded over 30 albums,numerous DVDs and have made many radioand television appearances to their credit.The band was formed in 1975 and madetheir debut on our television screens on theBBC talent show We’ll Call You. TheHoughton Weavers had their own showTell us what you think!editor@champnews.comRon EllisFUNCTION SUITESLawless’s fifth Christmas show at the RoyalCourt has a sci–fi theme, helped by giantrockets, starry skies and constant referencesto shows like Star Trek and Star Wars. Thescenery and the sound and light effects werea technological miracle and the script wasfull of excruciating puns and saucy doubleentendres churned out at such a rapid pace,my eyes couldn’t move fast enough to lipread.Then there was the music. Backed by agreat four–piece band led by Howard Greyand a trio of Space Girls (Charlotte Dalton,Stephanie Miles, Emily Trebicki) inprovocative costumes singing harmony asgood as the real Spice Girls. We had hitsfrom the 60’s and 70’s like Elvis Presley’sTrouble (Lindzi showed she could belt out anumber like Sophie Tucker), Sam & Dave’sHold On I’m Coming, The Who’s PinballWizard, The Crystals Then He Kissed Me anda sprinkling of Motown numbers.To cap it all, an unexpected cameo spot (onvideo screen) from Ricky Tomlinson as DeadGrandad.With a delicious Christmas Dinner servedbefore the show, great Sixties music and theScouse banter with the audience, it was anight to remember and a great productionby Ken Alexander. It could only happen inLiverpool.Star Rating 7 out of 10. A rock’roll panto inall but name.Angela Heslop (BBC Radio Merseyside) willbe the Master of Ceremonies.In addition to the CHET performances theCompany is also doing one performance atits new home, the Starry Nights Theatre,within Litherland High School, Sterrix Lane,L21 ODB.This performance is on Tuesday, December17th and will be preceded by a ChristmasMarket from 4.30pm entry to which will befree. The Master of Ceremonies at this venuewill be well–known local performer, JohnHilton.All three concerts begin at 7.30pm and theticket price includes seasonal refreshments.Tickets are £10 and can be obtained fromthe Ticket Secretary on 0151 924 0231or bycalling the Box Office Hotline on 0151 2886752.called Sit Thi Deawn which lasted for sixseries over seven years.The Weavers have appeared on otherprogrammes on the BBC and ITV and theyinclude: This is Your Life and The VideoEntertainers.During their six series on Radio 2 theyappeared with the likes of Cannon & Ball,Phil Cool, and Norman Wisdom.They have also been the lead in sixpantomimes at some of the top theatres inthe region.More information at 01704 500036, or callin at the Theatre Box Office.FREE FUNCTION ROOMAvailable for private parties and celebrationsGRANDSTAND BAR@ SOUTHPORT FOOTBALL CLUBFor details call 01704 533422 or 07976 555782SPORTS BAR OPEN ALL WEEK1111038
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