The Fremont Players - British Panto

Can't begin to tell you how much my family has enjoyed this the past two years. We'll be booking tix for this season eminently. If you aren't familiar with panto, imagine a classic fairy tale with some naughty humor (sails right over the kids heads). Add a ghost and a man in drag..... If this just sounds absurd its because it is. Maybe you just have to see it for yourself!

We have enjoyed the Hales Brewery pantos for the last 3 years they've been fabulous, laughing and yelling the whole time. The performances were sold out that we went to in previous years. Watching the kids participate is just hilarious.
This year Jack and the beanstalk was barely mediocre, I don't know why but all the songs were slow and dull, nothing exciting or uplifting at all, and no songs anyone knew. Most jokes fell flat. Also it was really difficult to hear the actors especially over the music. I don't know if they had mics but I only heard well the Lucy goosey and Jill. Unfortunately this was the year I invited my whole family so 16 of us and I'm hoping next year is better.
We still enjoyed some of it and had a good time as a family but it wasn't even half full which didn't help for audience participation.

I have attended the British Panto show for a couple of years and enjoyed myself very much at each show.

The original panto show has been in production for over 10 years in the area. From its website, "they team up with the Fremont Philharmonic Orchestra who writes all original songs and music."

Audience participation is required and that is what makes each panto show unique. Staff do an excellent job warming up audience each time.

Each year, the show is different. The show runs during Christmas season from early-December to mid-January on the weekends. Adults tickets are $12, Kids & Seniors $6. They also sell some expensive snacks there at the show. They do get packed at the theater at each show. The chairs at the theater are not the most comfortable, but the show is so funny and makes you almost forget about it.

It is difficult to find Hale's Palladium for your first time here. There is a big parking lot next to it. Don't walk towards the street direction, just walk further back and you will find a door with a sign on it.

If you miss it this holiday season, you can also see them Oregon Country Fair during the summer.

We love The Fremont Players pantomime. It's funny, it's quirky and a whole lot of fun. Certainly not what you would get in the UK, but luckily we are not in the UK, it's Fremont!

We have gone every year for at least 8 years, it's a huge part of our Christmas.

It's our 2nd year after moving from the UK. It's a tradition in England to see a pantomime over the Christmas and we were looking to find a British panto over here. This show was the first to come up after a quick google search. Well, really disappointing. We hardly could wait for the intermission and were very relieved to leave then. The show is on the boarder line of an amateur and talentless production. Everything was wrong with it: the costumes, stage, script, actors... nothing like back in the UK. The audience and the band were the best and nice part under the circumstances. The beer was also great. Back in England you do not get alcohol and popcorn served while attending the panto, everyone tends to dress up for the family outing. Still, we were lucky that after we bought ticket to this panto, we saw another one and that was BRILLIANT! If you wand to experience a quality production and a real taste of British panto - go elsewhere, the one that we enjoyed was Jack and the beanstalk this year and we already look forward to seeing their next year production!