Beauty And The Beast

He may be the Prince of buffoonery and the daftest of the daft, but when it comes to slapstick Harrogate Theatre’s Tim Stedman must surely be the King of Comedy.

He has been refining his technique for 18 years and, for the last five of them, working hand in hand with returning ‘dame’ Phil Stewart. This time Stedman was Muddles whilst Stewart, his on-stage mum, and perfect foil, was Pam Au Chocolat in Beauty and the Beast.

“We covered my uncle in margarine and he went downhill fast.” The one liners flew thick and fast and most of them felt totally original, even if some were probably pinched from the book of 1,000 gags for kids!

This year the panto centres around beautiful Belle - Maisey Bawden has a fine set of pipes - and the Beast, a troubled prince who has been placed under an evil spell for a hundred years. If he can learn to love and be loved in return, then hopefully the spell will be broken.

But, before this can happen, there has to be the customary behind yous, ghosts, plate smashing, juggling, a singalong and more gags than Doddy could spew from his mouth in one of his never-ending shows.

But without Stedman the panto would be greatly diminished. He really is a talented slapstick comedian. The corny one liners roll off his tongue faster than a runaway rollercoaster, and his mimickery, falling around and split-second timing are the result of three things, rehearsal, rehearsal and rehearsal.

Look out for the collapsing house; Charlie Chaplin would have been proud and remember, if you come across any North Yorkshire farmers who have fallen out with the profession, call them by their correct name. They are known locally as Extractor Fans. Get it? Never mind.

A great night of fun, frolics and near the knuckle jokes for the mums and dads! Hilarious.

Beauty and the Beast
Harrogate Theatre
Until January 21st