He’s Behind You! Strike gold again with another hilarious pantomime for all to see
Pantomimes are a cultural staple in the UK, marking the lead up to Christmas with family inclusive interactive theatre. In Beauty and the Beast: A Horny Love Story, that family-friendly appeal is similarly broad, perhaps though for a different kind of family.
Targeted to a more gay (particularly male) audience along with all the staples of classic panto, the result is a relatively raunchy parody of the classic fairytale. One could argue that with the 18+ rating, they could afford to be even raunchier! But the story itself is actually quite fresh, replacing France for north Scotland, creating a setting that is actually quite vivid in its world-building. Its primary settings are a motorway service station, the Beast’s castle (of course), and an oil rig. It feels believable, not forced, whilst also transforming some of its more ordinary locations into something more fantastical. The adaptable set design by David Shields really helped bring this to life.
The humour throughout is clever without being patronising. It works really well as a reflection on gay culture that generally doesn’t rely on simply calling out references, but working them further into the story and punchlines. There is a strong sense of gay men being the main demographic of the show, and diversifying the voices involved in making it somewhat might broaden the show’s appeal even more. Some jokes about lesbians felt a bit outdated and contradictory to our better contemporary understandings of lesbian relationships and sexuality. But still, there is a real effort made to capture a wider demographic, which is commendable.
The musical numbers are some of the highlights of the show, with tight choreography by Carole Todd and songs by Jon Bradfield that are musically brilliant and lyrically hilarious. They felt regularly fresh, considered and referential in all the right ways.
The cast were all an incredibly talented bunch, bringing a camp energy to their performances which put the audience at ease enough to actively participate in the show. Laura Anna-Mead and Dani Mirels were excellent at this, as well as Chris Lane, who played the classic panto villain in a brilliantly hateful fashion. Props must also be given to Keanu Adolphus Johnson, who played the beast with a great, consistent use of voice, and with a bit of genuine heart which made his character all that more appealing. Matthew Baldwin as the panto Dame was an absolute highlight of the night, and in no doubt held the reins of the show with ease. He made the show comically self aware, and if anything were to go wrong, Baldwin could play it off with hilarity, making it a moment of addition to the show’s appeal. Truly a class act, it is clear why this has been his role for nine of the company’s Pantomimes.
With Beauty and the Beast: a Horny Love Story, you are guaranteed a good night. The script just never lets up. It is clear that not only did a lot of work and focus go into making the show, but also a great deal of love, which is felt and extended throughout the room to the audience.