I went to a number of pantomimes and Christmas events at around that time, and earlier. I was 11. Normally at the Theatre Royal or the Alexandra, sometimes the Rep. But if I went to this one, I don’t remember anything about it. Possibly because it didn’t seem to have any famous names in it, people I had seen before like Jack Buchanan, Fred Emney and Lupino Lane.
But the mention of the Aston Babes in the press cutting did make me think of one pantomime I went to (and it MIGHT have been this one) when at some stage of the production a whole troupe of small girls did a dance number. Their appearance on the stage drew a sort of “Oh, AREN’T they sweet“ reaction from the audience. And they certainly did look young and pretty and sweet to me.
So I was a bit shaken when I found myself rubbing shoulders with two or three of them in the foyer afterwards. They were still in full costume and warpaint and were probably waiting to be picked up by their mums and dads. I realised that, tiny as they had appeared on stage, they were a good head taller than I. (But I’m sure they were just as sweet as they had looked).
Never wholly trusted anything I saw on stage after that. But it didn’t really matter anyway. I was already deeply in love with A.N. Other - of my own height and wearing no make-up - at the time......
Chris