Throbbin Wood - Adult Pantomine

This was to be my first adult pantomime so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but based on the title I had a fairly good idea of what was in store. From the moment we arrived, greeted by delightful 'eye candy' sellers and cheeky adult-themed treats, the tone was set for an evening of unabashed fun.

The minimalist set, featuring black backdrops, cartoonish trees, 'wanted' posters, and a target for arrows, was cleverly utilised. A memorable moment was the freeze-frame scene where backstage wearing a T-shirt with “Special FX Master”, humorously carried the Sheriff's arrow to the target, followed by Throbbin's arrow splitting it in two—a playful nod to the bullet in Hamilton.

The script was a triumph, leveraging the adult audience to its fullest with humour that was as risqué as it was refreshing. Each cast member shone in their roles, and while the singing occasionally faltered, it was the wit and innuendo that truly captivated. This was a show about the ‘double entendres’ and the smutty gags; it did not fail to deliver.

My favourite character was Amy Cahill's Silly Willy, adorned in a costume covered in cartoons befitting his name, and the messy scene beating his eggs was a visual not easily forgotten. Silly Willy’s entrances, met with the audience's enthusiastic chant of "F…off Willy," became a natural and hilarious part of the show. Cassandra Fisher's Fairy Glitterous, with her cheeky wand and iconic sound effects (think ‘When Harry Met Sally), added a delightful layer of humour. Matt Darkins' Sheriff of Frottingham was a bold and larger-than-life villain, complete with an equally larger-than-life codpiece that added to his comedic menace. Nanny Fanny, portrayed by Ed (aka Freda Entry), delivered constant costume changes and smutty banter, with her occasional Janet Jackson at the Superbowl moments adding unexpected hilarity. Carrie Parsons as Throbbin Wood and Daisy Slettevold as Maid Marian were compelling leads, each bringing energy, charm and risqué interactions to their performances.

Special mention goes to the ever-humorous Friar Tuck (said with a spoonerism), whose ‘third leg’ swinging just above floor height from under his cassock was puerile, but so funny.

The cast was supported by the basqued dance crew of four wonderful ladies, each a strong dancer and the choreography was simple throughout but very effective for the size of the stage and number of people on it. Well done to Chloe Gilbert and Alisha Darkins for the choreo.

For those open to the cheeky charm of adult panto, "Throbbin Wood" is an absolute must-see. Kudos to Mandy Morrish as director, Will Cahill as MD and the entire production team for orchestrating a night of laughter and unforgettable entertainment. I am sure there will be more to come (…) from this group in the adult panto genre.

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