Never fear, the Evening Times is here to help you make your mind up. Here are our festive findings on the first five, with the rest rounded up next week.
ANN FOTHERINGHAM and her little helpers report -
PETER PAN, PAVILION THEATRE, GLASGOW
REVIEWED BY: Brothers Matthew, 10, Michael, 8, and Luke McConnell, 2, along with mum and dad Karen and Ian, of Netherlee.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
The Darling children fly to Neverland with the boy who never grows up, and face Captain Hook. Comedian Jim Davidson is Captain Hook and Mr Darling, while panto dame Dean Park is Nanny Clyde, and former Miss Scotland Nieve Jennings is Wendy. James Young and James McAnerney put in fine performances as pirates Smee and Smelly. Comedian Johnny Mac is Peter Pan. DJ Cat Harvey is Tinker Cat.
KIDS' VERDICTS: Matthew: "Decent. A wee bit funny, but some of the jokes were rubbish. They didn't chuck the sweets."
Michael: "The Smee guy was good. I liked the bit where the Lost Boys came on and fought the pirates."
Luke: Mesmerised by falling snow. Clapped along to Campbeltown Loch, I Wish You Were Whisky".
FUNNIEST BIT: Davidson's quip when Michael Darling (Sam Angell) comes running into Neverland in his nightshirt: "It's Albert Steptoe out for a jog." And, explaining how he came by CCTV tapes revealing Pan was returning to Neverland at a well-known market. "They were pirate copies."
SCARIEST BIT: That awful fork-on-plate-type scraping sound as Jim Davidson dragged his hook down one of the Pavilion's pillars.
BEST BIT: Tartan Army-style routine to tune of We Will Rock You. Laser light show adds magic.
MARKS OUT OF TEN: 8
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, MOTHERWELL THEATRE
REVIEWED BY: Kylah, 6, sister Eilidh Ross, 3, along with mum and dad Julie and Gordon, from East Kilbride.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Beauty And The Beast with a modern edge. It has Ian "Sheepie" Smith as Funny French Franc, Mark Hudson as Dame Dolly Dolittle and Alan Mirren as Clarence Casanova. Scott Armstrong plays Prince Jean Pierre and The Beast, with Leigh Lothian as Beauty. Katrina Graham makes an impressive professional Panto debut as Fairy Kindheart.
KIDS' VERDICT: Kylah: "I loved it – especially the music, the Lady Gaga bit and the girls singing and dancing to Eliza Doolittle."
Eilidh: "I liked the big fat lady with all the dresses and hats."
FUNNIEST BIT: French Franc and Dame Dolly Dolittle stole the stage with their endless energy and the two came together perfectly in the wallpapering scene with Clarence Casanova.
SCARIEST BIT: Clarence Casanova and French Franc in The Black Forest, ending with the fight between the Beast and Clarence Casanova.
BEST BIT: The gunfight at the culmination of the wallpaper scene had everyone in stitches – and ducking for cover from the water-pistols. French Franc and Fairy Kindheart also treated a few willing kids from the audience with their chance on the stage. A great family day out!
MARK OUT OF TEN: 9
CINDERELLA, PALACE THEATRE, KILMARNOCK
REVIEWED BY: Eva Hannah, 4, and cousins Gabriella McConnell, 6, and Millie McConnell, 4, and Eva's mum, Alison, from Glasgow.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
A fresh take on Cinderella's struggle to make it to the biggest party in town and snag a date with the man of the moment. Jane McCarry (Isa from 'Still Game' and better known to the kids as CBeebies' Granny Murray) is the Fairy Godmother while Liam Dollan plays the impish Buttons. It's fun, but there is a lot of adult humour that was over the heads of the kids.
KIDS' VERDICT: This one got a thumbs-up from the little ones because of all the panto favourites; lots of slap-dash stuff, plenty of 'he's behind you' cries and lots of 'oh, no, he isn't.' Eva loved the ride to the ball after Granny Murray saved the day. "I liked the horses and Cinderella's beautiful dress and beautiful carriage."
FUNNIEST BIT: Gabriella: "When the ugly stepsisters went bald because Buttons put hair removal cream on their head rather than hair gel."
Millie: "I liked it when the ugly stepsisters kept telling all the kids to 'shut yer faces!'"
SCARIEST BIT: Not seeing the dreaded wicked stepmother. Her booming voice from backstage made her all the more ferocious.
BEST BIT:The kiss with the handsome price at the end.
MARK OUT OF TEN: 8
RUDOLF, ARCHES
REVIEWED BY: Archie, 8, and Harry, 3, and their mum and dad Ann and Fraser Wallace, from East Kilbride.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Two storytellers (Rob Evans and Ross Allan) try to encourage their hen to produce an egg for Christmas Day by telling her the story of brave Rudolf, the reindeer with big dreams. Using only bits and pieces from their tiny house, they held all the audience spellbound. Captivating tale played out on a beautiful set. Perfect for families.
KIDS' VERDICT: Harry: "I liked every single bit of the story because it was very funny and very silly." Archie: "The storytellers were brilliant."
FUNNIEST BIT: When Rudolf's nemesis was revealed as 'Olive, the other reindeer' all the grown-ups giggled, and the kids loved all the running about and falling over.
SCARIEST BIT: Harry and Archie experienced a moment of real anguish when poor Rudolf was left alone in the scary woods.
BEST BIT: When Rudolf finally gets to pull Santa's sleigh, of course.
MARK OUT OF TEN: 10
MISTER MERLIN: A PURE MAGIC PANTO, TRON THEATRE
REVIEWED BY: Ava Mitchell, 6, and her mum and dad Arlene and Bert, from Milngavie.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Evil Magician and show stealer, The Great Bahooky (Keith Fleming) and his boneheaded sidekick the uproarious Bumble (Robbie Jack) have stolen Mr Merlin's magic wand. They are tracked down by plucky Puppets Peter (Finn Den Hertog) and Penny (Sally Reid), with the help of shoot-from-the-lip Govan Fairy (Angela Darcy) as they try to reunite Merlin (Jimmy Chisholm) with his magic instrument.
KIDS' VERDICT: Ava: "It was great to get involved in all the songs and because you are so near the stage you feel like you can touch the people on the stage. I loved the Govan Fairy and her dance routine. One day I'd love to dance like that on the stage. Can't wait for next year."
FUNNIEST BIT: The Great Bahooky and Bumble's slapstick panto version of how not to bake a cake was a sidesplitter! Saturday Morning Kitchen look out!
SCARIEST BIT: Petrified puppets Peter and Penny's journey through Clabber Castle's haunted wood had us holding our breath.
BEST BIT: The great Bahooky and Bumble's demonstration of Cossack and Egyptian dancing was panto magic. And dad was amused when before the show, creator and writer Alex "Taggart" Norton mistook him for John Gordon Sinclair!
MARK OUT OF TEN: 9
