On Stage

m^P ON /S^ STAGE Fw JUDITH FISHER Queen's University "On Stage" has a slightly narrower focus for this issue. As I am currently in London, England, and as there is little Victorian drama happening either here or in North America during the rest of the season, I thought you might be interested to hear about some of the various offerings of that nineteenth-century English stalwart of the Christmas and New Year season; pantomime. CANADA: ONTARIO: Jeckyll and Hyde Ford Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto· starts 22 June · Oliver Princess ofWales Theatre, Toronto· early 1999 · Peter Pan Ford Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto· 29 January -21 February · Cathy Rigby stars as Peter Pan. UNITED KINGDOM: Aladdin Anthony Hopkins Theatre, Mold, Clwyd· until 23 January · I have a son spot for this panto because it was the first one I ever did. Aladdin Theatre Royal, Norwich· until 24 January · Starring Paula Wilcox. Aladdin Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham· until 16 January · A Christmas Carol Birmingham Repertory Theatre· until 16 January · Director Michael Bogdanov also did the adaptation. On Stage225 Cinderella Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith· until 9 January · This is the one I am going to see as Neil Bartlett directs for the Improbable Theatre company, and the advanced publicity promises us the "traditions of nineteenth-century pantoland touched by the spirit ofAngela Carter"! Cinderella Theatre Royal, Stratford East· until 23 January · Paul Keating stars as Buttons. Cinderella Oxford Playhouse· until 17 January · Dick Whittington Hackney Empire, London E8· until 10 January · This production promises full cross-gender casting, with Anita Dobson as King Rat and CUve Rowe as Sarah the Cook. Mother Goose Bristol Old Vic· until 30 January · Devised and "darned" by Chris Harris. Peter Pan Royal National Theatre· until 20 February · Stunning flying in John Caird and TrevorNunn's revived production. Into the Woods DonmarWarehouse· until 13 February · Sondheim's work isn't pantomime, of course, but he does use many nineteenth-century fairy tales for this piece. An Ideal Husband by Oscar WUde Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue· continuing · Susannah York still stars in this long-running Peter HaU production. A Month in the Country by Turgenev Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon· until 20 February · The Pit Barbican Centre· 30 March continuing · Michael Attenborough directs this adaptation by Brian Friel. ...