Some Sleeping Beauty fans who were at the London Palladium were unimpressed by Catherine Tate and Julian Clary’s panto at the end of the festive season production.
The London Palladium annual panto is being reviewed poorly by angry audience members who are complaining about everything from the all-star cast and the price of tickets to the ‘tired’ script. The infamous annual Christmas theatre show is currently tackling the story of Sleeping Beauty.
Huge actors from both comedy and television are a part of the cast, including Nigel Havers, Julian Clary, and Catherine Tate. Some theatergoers have been left feeling slighted by the performances and lack of laughter because the prices range from £37 to £220 for tickets.
However, after negative reviews went viral, there was a tidal wave of support for the cast and the show. And while some sensitive theatergoers have voiced their disapproval of some of the show’s heinous language, others have pointed out that innuendo is a fundamental component of any panto and have pointed out that a warning for parents is already available on the ticket website.
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Fans praising the show have flooded Instagram and X to support those on stage – with one writing: “It’s brilliant, great cast with wonderful costumes,” and another commenting: “Saw it today. Loved every minute of it.”
One fan wrote, “The headline act is Julian Clary,” rounding off the criticism. People were foolish to expect a child-friendly environment. When we first saw it, it was exactly what we had anticipated. Of all the main actors, Catherine Tate was the least smutty.
The encouraging remarks come after TripAdvisor received a lot of negative feedback about the comedy show. One person wrote, “Julian Clary frequently makes us laugh out loud, but even he appeared to be a shadow of his zany panto self.” Many of the cast members were aware that this year’s film was lacking.
Reliably funny skits felt worn out, many jokes lacked the old-fashioned genius wit, and the customary, simple flow was just absent. The audience was noticeably more subdued than I’ve ever witnessed, with the exception of Catherine Tate’s well-received “Nan” sketch.
Another person remarked, “Catherine Tate was very dull. It’s unfortunate because it’s been a tradition for us for the past nine years that I’m not sure I’ll bother going back next year. Couldn’t bring myself to clap, as one typed: “While another. A children’s show that is meant for adults. A gloomy, sluggish innuendo tirade.
One person wrote that she felt “very disappointed” after paying “many dollars for seats” over the cost of the tickets. Another swipe was made, “There was no standing ovation at the end, and the audience’s reaction this week was obviously muted.”
Some of the negative comments are hopeful, with one saying, “Went to watch sleeping beauty panto, absolutely brilliant. Excellent service and beautiful setting. Another praises the venue, the staff, the show, and others.
Sleeping Beauty is set to run until Sunday 11 January. The Mirror has contacted representatives of the Palladium Theatre and members of the cast for comment.
