The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto: Rapunzel – Liverpool Everyman

Writer: Jude Christian

Director: Francesca Goodridge

The Everyman’s latest panto casts the fairytale of a golden-haired maiden trapped in a tower as a tussle between rival Liverpool hairdressers.

Zoe West’s blustering Mancunian baddie Danny Rough dreams of world domination with his laddish Madchester-themed salon, Manferit. The Scouse competition comes in the form of Michael Starke’s Dame, Debbie Updo, and her cutting emporium Blonde Bombshell.

Caught between these giants of the curling tongs is Ai Kumar’s seemingly helpless Rapunzel, hidden away and exploited for the magical power of her flowing locks. The task of untangling this tale of love, deceit and kidnapping falls to Adam Keast’s Fairy Fixer-Upper – an engaging warm-up act who also takes turns as bass player in this multi-instrumentalist ensemble.

Once the story is set, this show moves along with good pace and energy, created by the sheer musicality of the cast. Janet Bird’s simple set design places the band high above the stage but there are microphones up and down with space for musicians to interchange at will.

Tomi Ogbaro is larger than life as Dame Debbie’s obedient yet hapless assistant, Trevor; he also sings and plays drums. Ben Boskovic’s plays a hilarious Prince Timotei – on a royal mission to bring great hairstyles to the barren Wirr-el peninsula – who also takes turns behind the drumkit in between songs. Kumar ditches the divine ponytail for the violin and keys while Rebecca Levy’s Laurie plays bestie to Rapunzel and shares guitar duties with macho man Rough.

This is classic panto for the family and West’s roguish Danny Rough milks the villain for boos and whistles. Michael Starke, best-known for playing Sinbad in the TV soap Brookside, steals the show at times as Debbie Updo with a series of laugh-out-loud outfits and enough knowing nods and winks to make the perfect bloke-in-a-frock dame. Emma Bispham combines playing Rough’s not-so-loyal assistant Goop and the oddly hirsuite oracle Hairy McFairy – a nightmarish mixture of Cousin It from the Addams Family and Cruella de Ville.

The songs are performed brilliantly, the band tight throughout. Dylan Townley’s Weatherman knits things together on keyboards. Understudies Alice Merivale and Adam Scott Pringle also get in on the act while British Sign Language Performer Jude Mahon deserves a mention for an eye-catching interpretation of the events from stage left.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto: Rapunzel is pitched just right for families and is suitable viewing for basin cuts, blue rinses and mullets alike. It takes a little time to get going but soon gets into the swing and by the end it has the audience on its feet.

Runs Until 18 January 2025