Panto season comes to the Isle of Man this weekend, quicker than it takes you to say ’Oh no it doesn’t’!

The Peel Pantaloons present their festive spectacular, a unique take on the story of the Grinch, beginning with a matinee performance at the Peel Centenary Centre on Sunday, December 2, from 2pm and followed by a run of five shows, beginning on Wednesday December 5 until Saturday December 8.

The only bad news for pantomime lovers is that the tickets for the six shows have already sold out.

Victoria Reynolds, the director of the pantomime, said tat she and all the team from the pantoloons are amazed by the response they have had to this year’s show.

’We’re completely overwhelmed by the very quick sell out of tickets,’ said Victoria.

’It’s possibly the fastest time the tickets have been sold in.

’They went on sale at the end of October and some of the main nights sold out in a couple of days. It’s hard to know what to say to people who are still trying to get tickets now, as a lot of people are still trying. But it has been amazing, and great fun to see the show come together.’

The western-based pantomime group have created their own version of the classic tale of the lonely, angry green creature that steals Christmas out of spite, and are looking forward to opening at the weekend.

’It is a twist on the traditional story,’ she said.

’We’ve given the Grinch a panto twist, but the theme is still the same. Obviously we have things like a panto dame, but we still follow the similar story line, that the Grinch is trying to steal Christmas.

’We start off meeting some of the nice characters. We meet Annie and Nora Good first, and they are followed by the Cheermeisters, led by Colin. They have a special treat for the audience.

’Only then we will see the Grinch, who will be trying to master his Harry Potter book of spells.

’It is the old story of good verses evil, and good will always win in the end.’

Magician and children’s entertainer Chris Burns stars as the Grinch, and will be able to call on any number of magic tricks to make the show a magical one, while Mark Britton will liberally apply the greasepaint to appear as the traditional panto dame, Nora Good.

There are also a colourful cast of characters, called Widgit, Pinchit, Grimble and Brandy, played by Katie Parton, Kayleigh Smart, Erin Kelly and Jessica-Fay Kitchin.

The role of Polly Watt, who befriends the wicked Grinch and helps him enjoy Christmas is shared between two children, seven year old Ellie Reynolds and Charlotte Dalgleish, nine, who will perform the role on different nights.

’Our youngest actors are seven years old, with Ellie playing one of the principal roles. We have a lot of new young cast members too that have joined us for this year, that haven’t done a panto, or haven’t necessarily been on stage before either,’ said Victoria.

’We hold open auditions, usually around July, and it is open for any one, kids or adults, to come along and try to join. The hardest thing is only accepting the kids we need. We have two groups of ten, who, over six performances, do three shows each, and obviously some are successful in being accepted and some aren’t.

’But it is open to everybody, children, teens or adults. We welcome everybody and it is great to see them develop.

’When they join the group they are very unsure or anxious but we have such a great bunch of people, we all help out and chip in together, and they help the new ones feel welcome and settle down. It is amazing with everything they have done, from producing the scenery and the costumes.

We are seeing it all come together now, after many months of hard work, and it is a great feeling. It is a long three months of rehearsals, preparations, making things, sewing and painting, creating all the props and when it all comes together it is wonderful.’

by Mike Wade

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