Buttons' Dream

Thank you for inviting me to your annual pantomime, which this year was a home penned pantomime, and it was good to meet Emma the writer and director at the end to chat about her concept for the storyline. 

Buttons’ Dream delves into the premise that in all pantomimes whilst the storylines are slightly different, the characters and their individual journeys are pretty much the same. In this production written by director Emma we find Pantoland in crisis. The principal girl is rebelling, time has been turned upside down and poor Buttons is right in the thick of it as Meany McMeanface casts a spell on the land whist he is dreaming.

I really enjoyed this pantomime as it was something very different to the norm. I loved the concept, and it certainly looked like the cast embraced the idea of a pantomime story turned on its head. The show had been well cast with each of the principals developing their roles and characterisation. Under Emma’s direction, the cast brought out all the comedy of the script and delivered all the gags and slapstick routines with perfect timing. The audience were engaged from beginning to end as the panto romped along with energy and pace.

The choreography was well designed for the show with dance routines which had repeated patterns and synchronised movements. The opening number which ran forwards initially, and then backwards as the day went into repeat mode was cleverly done and an interesting way to start the show. The principals and the ensemble worked well together with some excellent singing and they all looked to be having great fun and threw themselves into everything with great gusto and lots of energy.

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