Puss in Boots at Hackney Empire – review
Tony Timberlake (King Konkers), Kat B (Puss in Boots) and Stephen Matthews (Dame Nettie Knowall) in Puss in Boots. Photograph: Robert Workman
For its annual Christmas pantomime the Hackney Empire has this year chosen the lesser-known Puss in Boots, based on a tale by Charles Perrault.
Written and directed by Susie Mckenna, the story follows Thomas (Matt Dempsey) and his loyal aide Puss (Kat B) who after being ousted as the heirs to his father’s Mill, set out to try their fortunes in Hackneyonia.
Once there, Puss (now in boots) and Thomas become involved in a tussle for the kingdom involving a witch (Josefina Gabrielle), a fairy (Allyson Ava Brown) an ogre (Leon Sweeney) and a dysfunctional monarchy.
The casting of Kat B as the quick-witted Jamaican sidekick Puss is a masterstroke. He shimmies around the stage with ‘moves like jaguar’, giving Antonio Banderas’ Latino lothario a run for his money.
Amy Lennox also stands out as petulant Princess Petunia, the mutual disgust between her and Thomas a nice twist to the ‘fairy-tale’ coupling we have come to expect.
Jibes at the Empire’s parking, Shoreditch ‘riff-raff’ and Stokey cyclists give the show much-appreciated local colour. Amid the inevitable paint-pot pandemonium, Dame Nettie Knowall (Stephen Matthews) gets a little squiffy on gin and takes a swipe at the council’s redecoration of Hackney’s Narrow Way: “No seriously, what have they done?”
The Dame’s wardrobe, designed by Lotte Collett, is fantastic and includes a dress sewn with social media icons, but a curious white matrimonial Boer War outfit takes the crown.
The real magic dust though is Steven Edis’ music; from the electrifying Adele medley led by the powerhouse vocals of Queen Talullah the Hoo Ha (Sharon D. Clarke) to the ‘Les Mis’ tribute, the pop mash-ups keep the show alive.
Puss in Boots is split, not along the usual panto lines of ‘adult’ and ‘child’ jokes, but between the tradition of tap-dancing Dames, earnest Principal Boys and pretty fairies on the one hand, and more updated characters such as cool Kat Puss, body-popping Amnesiah (Darren Hart) and Twitter addict Petunia on the other. Mckenna manages this difficult blend well, resulting in a show with something for everyone to enjoy.
Puss in Boots is at the Hackney Empire until 5 January.
291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ
I am writing to congratulate them on the fantastic performance of Puss in Boots. The production cast and costumes were amazing and my children really appreciated the show. However, I am writing to complain about the constant homosexual jokes and gestures which were continual throughout the performance. I find these jokes and gestures extremely offensive and inappropriate for a children’s performance.
The homosexual connotations had the children asking questions throughout the performance about why one of the characters was constantly gyrating his bottom towards another individuals genitals.
As a regular supporters of the Hackney Empire we thoroughly enjoy watching Christmas pantomime each year, unfortunately I feel each year the homosexual connotations are increasing and I find them unamusing just as I would find it with heterosexual jokes and gestures for the target age group.
I feel the performance NEEDS to be modified as not to offend anybody, and make the performance a truly magical adventure for all age groups.
I saw this production last night with my 3 and 6 year old children.
It was fantastic. The best panto I’ve ever seen. Production, music, cast and costumes all top notch. My 6 year old was transfixed for the whole show.
Special mentions to patois style Puss in Boots who was perfectly cast and had the audience eating out of his paws, while Sharon D Clark’s singing was amazing.
Hackney Empire is such a beautiful theatre too. A real treasure in the east end.
On to the criticism of Ms D Johnson – I would ask: have you seen any other panto?
The whole point of a panto is to have something for adults and children alike. Yes, there’s innuendo, but only adults get it. That *is* panto. The adult references are too obscure for children to get.
Someone “gyrating” their bottom, which incidentally I must have missed, would only be sexual in nature to those people who construe it that way – namely, you an adult. I didn’t see it that way. In fact I didn’t see any genitals, as there weren’t any on show.
If your kids are old enough to be asking questions about this behaviour, then maybe you need to explain what homosexuality is because I’m sure through the eyes of a child the show is as innocent as they are.