Mother Goose

Runway Theatre Group is the only society in No.1 Region which regularly has a panto — at least the only one I am invited to, so the only one I can write about for this magazine.  In fact, this was the sixth re-incarnation of Mother Goose since the club started in 1967 as a way to raise money for charities, all members originally staff at Glasgow Airport.  Since then Runway’s panto has become a fixture in the diaries of many people, as a good family show, and the 2013 version was no exception.  The original scripts by Eric Gould are updated by Chairman Robert Fyfe and Campbell Kerr, the Director, both of whom knew Eric well, and who stick to his principles.  A bright, colourful show, with lots of movement from the chorus of 17, all smiling and obviously having a ball!  Will Pollock again took the role of Dame, working hard to the delight of all, the youngsters in particular.  Iain G Condie (Demon Discontent) was not someone you’ld like to meet on a dark night, but certainly well worth booing.  He did get his comeuppance at the end, though, thanks to Marco Mammone (Jack) despite hindrance from Samuel Gorman (Simon), Raymond Cairns and Gary Fyfe (Peely and Wally) and Graeme Mackay (Baron Dore).  Glamour was provided by Joanne McMinn (Jill) and Erin Bond (Dotty) with Merlyn Soutar (Fairy Gossamer) and Anne Fraser (Goose Queen) providing more sparkle.  Poor Dav McKenzie spent his time cooped up in the Goose costume, but certainly wasn’t as silly as Simon.  Sweets thrown, audience participation with a song, hisses and laughs, good defeating evil, boy gets his girl — all the ingredients for a great panto, which this one was.

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