PwC Panto

Yesterday we trekked into London for the first time in over two months.  We bought tickets to the PricewaterhouseCoopers 2009 Pantomime, which was Sleeping Beauty.  

PwC staff put on a pantomime production each year.  Not only are the actors all from PwC, but everyone else required to put on a show comes from there as well.  The orchestra, backstage crew, etc. are all from the Firm.  One of their key purposes is to provide free tickets to city children though schools, etc. to see a pantomime in a West End theatre.  They spend a few days in Glasgow, and about five in London, and thats it.  We actually got some of the last seats available for the Saturday matinee when we booked in mid-December.  

Because the show didn't start until 2:30, we had a bit of time to wander around first.  I always pack a snack bag when we go to London, and the kids try to empty it as fast as they can.  Yesterday I packed some sandwiches for them so that Brad and I could eat where ever we wanted without worrying if they'd like it.  We got off the tube near the London PwC office and went to this little park nearby for the kids' picnic.

Brad likes to think that the kids are impressed by his office.
We ended up eating lunch at a hamburger restaurant.  I had a butternut squash burger which was quite tasty.  Ben got a burger too even though he was full after eating half of his peanut butter sandwich.
Then we found a little cupcake bakery that I'd read about.  "Little" is the operative word here - only three tables inside, which were all occupied.  So we stood outside to enjoy our treats.
Then it was time to find the theatre and see the show.
We all enjoyed the show very much and were very impressed by the quality, considering it was all done by PwC employees.  As usual, it wasn't the standard Disney version of Sleeping Beauty, and there were some different characters (including a drag queen as Nanny Nora).  The orchestra, singing and acting were all great, as were the costumes and make-up (we got some up-close looks in the lobby after the show.)  The songs were all contemporary popular songs, like "You're so Lovely", "Dancing in the Streets", "Hey Big Spender", and a modified version of "I'm gonna be (500 Miles)".

The kids are really enjoying all the theatre over here.  We don't have any plans yet to take them to a West End show, but since the smaller, community theatres are so great, there really is no rush.  As long as there is ice cream at intermission, its all good!