PIRATES OF THE PAVILION

Weymouth Pavilion

AHOY there, the panto pirates are back in town so buckle your swash and join in the fun as the madcap team set out to find a secret treasure on a Caribbean island.

On board the Saucy Sally pirate ship are Weymouth star Charlotte Allen, Philip Green of Britain’s Got Talent fame and Robert Squire who between them pull off a string of comedy routines that keep the audience laughing throughout a show that is full of songs, dances, colourful costumes and eye-popping special effects.

A leggy chorus line of lovelies, a dance team of local children, a wicked witch and a pair of puppet mice, not to mention a camp Dame in the person of Alex Anstey, all star in this Dorset production written and directed especially for Weymouth by Lee Redwood.

The secret of success for family shows is to provide entertainment for parents and excitement for children, all wrapped up in a story line that is uncomplicated and easy on the eye.

This Pirates production ticks most of those boxes except for one vital thing – three hours is just a bit too long for a holiday show, the attention span of the average eight-year-old being considerably shorter than that.

Nevertheless, the audience participation routines were first class and the cast were full of energy and goodwill, ignoring the occasional technical glitch and giving energetic and imaginative performances that were a credit to them all.

There are two performances every Monday and Tuesday at 2pm and 6pm throughout August.

MARION COX