Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs review, SEC Armadillo, Glasgow: Greg McHugh's a treat but the show isn't the fairest of all
The former SECC Clyde Auditorium was officially rebranded the SEC Armadillo in 2017. The renaming of what is the biggest panto venue in Scotland was sensible, if overdue, given that the people of Glasgow gave it that particular nickname the moment it opened in 1997 and never let it go. If only the venue’s pantomime could develop a similarly consistent identity.
Since 2014, the show has been headlined variously by John Barrowman, David Hasselhoff and recently retired panto veterans The Krankies. In 2017, the big stage pantomime secured the services of Scottish comedy TV star Greg McHugh, aka Gary: Tank Commander. He’s back for this year’s Christmas offering Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. McHugh (who plays the role of Gary, the court jester) is the very embodiment of the phrase “camp as Christmas”, and is tremendous value, as ever.
However, the show sometimes sags when he’s not on-stage. A certain lack energy at times is also due to a decided lack of production values. Pantomime is entitled to revel in its own garishness, of course, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that the set and costume designs here often appear like an afterthought, not least in the case of an astonishingly unimpressive, almost amateurish group of animals. Which is a pity as McHugh is joined by some fine panto performers in the shape of Doon Mackichan (the Toast of London star, deliciously louche as baddie Queen Lucretia), Leah MacRae (Gary’s uncouth mum Nanny McWee) and the splendidly voiced Frances Thorburn (a decidedly Disney-ish Snow White).
The titular heroine’s love interest, Prince Hamish of Hyndland, is played, unsteadily at times, by musical theatre performer Matthew McKenna (who, oddly, struggles more at the lower end of the vocal range than when he’s reaching the high notes). The script’s numerous forays into dubious vulgarity will, one suspects, perturb some parents of young children; even if this element is leavened somewhat by a genuinely humorous, Vaudevillian tongue-twisting sketch.
The pick of the musical numbers (which tend towards the banal whenever the Seven Dwarfs appear) is the delightfully glitzy disco pastiche Blame it on the Gary. This somewhat cavernous venue does not lend itself easily to theatrical atmosphere. Try as it might, this production doesn’t quite succeed in generating the necessary excitement.
Until Dec 31. Tickets: 0844 395 4000; sec.co.uk
