From the moment I saw the posters advertising David Hasselhoff as Captain Hook at the Bristol Hippodrome this Christmas, I knew I had to be there. So after lots of boyfriend badgering, we went to see it this Friday. As you would expect, it was ridiculously camp, but we really enjoyed ourselves :D
The Hoff was of course the main attraction. He was happy to make jokes at his own expense and somehow managed to wedge watching the bay, Neverland's Got Talent, Kit the talking car from Knight Rider and every German's favourite pop-song Jump in my Car into the two hour show. However, perhaps the best moment of the show was his adaptation of Hot Stuff... Hoff Stuff!
Sadly though, there just didn't feel like enough Hoff - in an ideal world it would have been two hours of him parading around with his lustrous black curls and shining hook, but unfortunately far more of the show featured Andy Ford than Hasselhoff. Andy Ford was clearly there to appeal to the Bristol crowd with jokes about Melksham, Radstock and, above all, pasties. He also busted out the cheese with 'classics' like - "What's a pirate's favourite shop? Aaargos!". While at times it was awkwardly bad, you know with panto that you have to go with the cheese, and we found ourselves smiling and giggling along throughout, and gleefully following all the panto 'HE'S BEHIND YOU!" traditions like little kids. Robert Rees as Peter and Janine Esther Cowell as Wendy were good enough, suitably bright and bubbly for panto. The guy dressed up as first Nana the Dog, then the ticking crocodile, was a particular highlight! The only thing I really didn't like was the Motown trio singing half the songs that had at best tenuous links to the show. While it works brilliantly in Little Shop of Horrors, it's not right for Peter Pan(to). Nonetheless, I would recommend the show to anyone looking for a fun, uplifting night, if only to enjoy the charm of the Hoff.
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