Writer: Johnny McKnight
Director: Sally Reid
Designer: Kenny Miller
Composer: Ross Brown
A decade on from its first appearance at The Tron, the re-vamped Aganeza Scrooge has been given a glow-up and marks a return to top form for the city centre venue.
The most Glasgow of Glasgow pantos, it gives Charles Dickens familiar tale a thoroughly modern twist with a barrage of local and Scottish theatrical references. There are digs a plenty at the biggest panto running across town, the current Scottish Government arts funding debacle and the National Theatre of Scotland to name a few.
Down on Dickensian Street (that looks suspiciously like the environs of the Tron) entrepreneur Aganeza is driven to succeed. Pinching every penny, she makes her loyal employee Bob Cratchitt’s life an utter misery. Aganeza of course is forced to see the error of her ways through visitations from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Thrown into the mix are a Karl Lagerfeld look-a-like Jacob Marley accompanied by an 80s guitar/synth trio, an Aberdonian Barbie, The Spice Girls (minus sporty) and a 90s boy band that left the audience in tears.
Aimed at adults it is smut and innuendo free, it’s clever in the best possible way. The mad cap antics and eye-popping visuals keeping the little-uns amused when the dialogue is over their head.
With the best entrance in theatreland this year, Louise McCarthy, (clad in a silver sequin strewn catsuit, to a 70s disco beat) is an absolute powerhouse of a performer, a force of nature, her Aganeza is bold, brash and bloody brilliant. You’ll see no finer delivery of lines anywhere in the pantosphere. Her timing is blistering and she can reduce the audience to tears of laughter with just a look.
McCarthy is ably supported by the ever reliable Julie Wilson Nimmo, an eternal Tron favourite and a hard worked ensemble playing a mind-blowing number of multiple roles. This is eye-wateringly funny from start to end, the atmosphere electric, it doesn’t miss a beat throughout.
An outstanding example of what can be done with a limited budget and talent, talent, talent. Utterly unmissable – worth all the stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Runs until 7 January 2024