Puss in Boots at Hackney Empire – review

Tony Timberlake (King Konkers), Kat B (Puss in Boots) and Stephen Matthews (Dame Nettie Knowall) in Puss in Boots. Photograph: Robert Workman

For its annual Christmas pantomime the Hackney Empire has this year chosen the lesser-known Puss in Boots, based on a tale by Charles Perrault.

Written and directed by Susie Mckenna, the story follows Thomas (Matt Dempsey) and his loyal aide Puss (Kat B) who after being ousted as the heirs to his father’s Mill, set out to try their fortunes in Hackneyonia.

Once there, Puss (now in boots) and Thomas become involved in a tussle for the kingdom involving a witch (Josefina Gabrielle), a fairy (Allyson Ava Brown) an ogre (Leon Sweeney) and a dysfunctional monarchy.

The casting of Kat B as the quick-witted Jamaican sidekick Puss is a masterstroke. He shimmies around the stage with ‘moves like jaguar’, giving Antonio Banderas’ Latino lothario a run for his money.

Amy Lennox also stands out as petulant Princess Petunia, the mutual disgust between her and Thomas a nice twist to the ‘fairy-tale’ coupling we have come to expect.

Jibes at the Empire’s parking, Shoreditch ‘riff-raff’ and Stokey cyclists give the show much-appreciated local colour. Amid the inevitable paint-pot pandemonium, Dame Nettie Knowall (Stephen Matthews) gets a little squiffy on gin and takes a swipe at the council’s redecoration of Hackney’s Narrow Way: “No seriously, what have they done?”

The Dame’s wardrobe, designed by Lotte Collett, is fantastic and includes a dress sewn with social media icons, but a curious white matrimonial Boer War outfit takes the crown.

The real magic dust though is Steven Edis’ music; from the electrifying Adele medley led by the powerhouse vocals of Queen Talullah the Hoo Ha (Sharon D. Clarke) to the ‘Les Mis’ tribute, the pop mash-ups keep the show alive.

Puss in Boots is split, not along the usual panto lines of ‘adult’ and ‘child’ jokes, but between the tradition of tap-dancing Dames, earnest Principal Boys and pretty fairies on the one hand, and more updated characters such as cool Kat Puss, body-popping Amnesiah (Darren Hart) and Twitter addict Petunia on the other. Mckenna manages this difficult blend well, resulting in a show with something for everyone to enjoy.

Puss in Boots is at the Hackney Empire until 5 January.
291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ