TRON PANTO IS A GLASGOW CLASSIC

THERE are two certainties in life, says the old joke about death and nurses. But there are actually three, if you include the category Panto Consistency.

Tron pantos practically come with a guarantee of a terrific performance.

And as always, the Tron takes a traditional panto idea and turns it into pure Glasgow.

Said one critic: "The plot, of course, is only an excuse for writers Gordon Dougall and Fletcher Mathers to poke affectionate fun at the routine formats and cliches of panto itself, while taking occasionally barbed sideswipes at who and what is afoot in other city venues.

"They are, actually, following in the Tron's own tradition of tongue-in-cheek spoofery - though perhaps with gentler whimsy and less pungent social/political satire than when Forbes Masson was part of the team."

This year the storyline sees Wullie Whittington arrive in George Square to seek fame.

Wullie is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his fantastically famous second cousin, Dick.

However, there is a stumbling block, while Dick is the master of song and dance, Wullie appears to be totally talentless!

How can this penniless and hopeless fool, armed with only his pet sheep, Baarbaaara ever hope to win the hearts minds and votes of the people?

There's no doubt the kids love the show.

"They got most of the jokes and especially liked the two animal characters Baarbaara the sheep and Tommy the cat," said our panto reviewer.

"They even become part of the panto when some of the characters went into the crowd and chatted to the kids.

"And one lucky little girl got to be a judge on the X Y Factor. By the end all the kids were singing, shouting, pointing and dancing."

That's praise indeed.

But the grown-ups weren't left out and the quick-fire dialogue was well written and clever. Our reviewer was worried she was laughing more than the kids for the first half.

Watch out for Bob Carr's, self-deprecating panto dame Sheena the chef, who was compulsively funny. Taking the fun out of themselves and other pantos was a really nice touch.

And watch out for the shout-out - your ear drums may be a little tender in the morning - the sweetie shower and the singa-long.

WULLIE WHITTINGTON, The Tron Theatre until December 21.

Performances: Tue & Thu @ 10am & 7.30pm, Wed & Fri @ 1pm & 7.30pm, Sat @ 2pm & 7.30pm, Sun @ 1pm & 5pm.