REVIEW: Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates

Brian Conley is fabulous as Robinson Crusoe Picture by Keith Pattison

THE MAYFLOWER Theatre panto has become as much a part of our family’s Christmas as turkey and the tree, but the big question this year was: How could it possibly live up to last year’s standards?

The 2012 production, not that you could easily forget, featured Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Beans and a supporting cast led by Sir Nigel Havers, complete with a 3D backdrop that made it an amazing cross between theatre and cinema.

How to beat that? By going for something completely different. that’s how.

Brian Conley, as Robinson Crusoe, is a superb lead character. There’s plenty of his humour in the script - and plenty more added as the show takes shape. If anything the unscripted bits, when Conley and co-stars can barely keep straight faces and deliver the next line, are among the highlights.

There’s slapstick comedy, corny comedy, adult comedy (not that the kids would have noticed) ... and just about every other type of comedy ever heard of.

Those who used to love Conley’s Saturday-night TV show will love his performance - there are plenty of catchphrases and characters from those days - but you don’t have to have appreciated his past work to find him funny.