6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Ever wondered about pantomime dames? Learn their secrets at this show
Traverse Theatre
A good dame should grow old disgracefully. So says Johnny McKnight, and he should know. This dressed up doyen of twenty-first century pantomime has been at it for 20 years now, and has learnt a trick or two along the way he wants to share with us in this solo show and tell of his brilliant career. In order to do this, McKnight arrives on stage in full costume, make up and attitude as Dorothy Blawna-Gale, who has become a true friend, both to McKnight and young audiences who lap up her larger than life persona.
Don't be fooled by the disguise, mind. Behind the extravagant wig, make up and gingham ensemble that liberates McKnight to reel off a stream of deadly one-liners, McKnight lays bare both his personal odyssey into the pantosphere while relating some of its colourful history.
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From a primary school kid enthralled by panto great Johnny Beattie, McKnight works his way up to don a frock to call his own. As he speaks directly with the audience, McKnight sets down the rules of Dorothy, essentially a bullet point guide to do and don'ts learnt the hard way through his anything goes early years. From dealing with complaints McKnight learns the art of staying true to one's muse whilst taking responsibility for his actions.
Crucially, McKnight comes clean regarding his personal emancipation as a gay man as sex and sexuality come calling. Out of all this, McKnight retains an evangelical zeal for his artform, and sees panto as a genuinely subversive means of creative expression.
Originally presented as this year's annual Cameron Lecture at the University of Glasgow in honour of former tutor Dr. Alasdair Cameron, McKnight's candid tour de force has been turned into a full production care of director John Tiffany.
Tiffany sprinkles his own high-octane magic on to things in his National Theatre of Scotland/Traverse Theatre co-production. The result sees McKnight framed by Grant Anderson's pink hued lighting on Kenny Miller's star emblazoned showbiz set for a powerhouse of wisdom from the frontline of the original people's theatre.
Apart from anything else, McKnight is a wonderful performer who looks totally at ease onstage in a work that celebrates pantomime's roots while looking to future possibilities in a show that should be required viewing for theatre scholars throughout the land.
Until August 24, various times.
For festival tickets, see here
