A Jolly Roger Christmas

Cairns Little Theatre’s latest production has a pirate ship crashing into the North Pole and lots of boxes containing baked beans. A highly improbable plot until you realise that it’s a pantomime and in pantomime land anything can happen.

Written and directed by Noelene Rees, A Jolly Roger Christmas is a feast of entertainment from beginning to end. All the usual panto gags are there as well as plenty of opportunities for vocal audience participation.

Star of the show is Aaron Rees, who plays the panto dame - in this case Nurse Septic. Aaron doesn’t have to say a word, just looking at him poncing around the stage is enough to crack you up. Clearly his best performance yet.

Villain of the show is Alicia Clark as the pirate captain, Rosalita the Relentless. She was supposed to be booed when entering the stage, but she received as many cheers as boos. A terrific performance from Alicia.

Panto veterans John Clapshoe, Santa’s toy maker, Kevin Loccisano as Roll, Cliff Harrison as Horrible Harry and Dwayne McColm as Dipsy gave the show plenty of polish. These excellent panto actors were well supported by a chorus of energetic young performers who doubled as elves, pirates and just about everything else.

The choreography was superb and fast while the musical numbers were bouncy and uplifting. In short, there was plenty of talent on stage with energy to burn to make this tight scripted production thoroughly entertaining.

And Santa does appear; eventually. 

Ken Cotterill