Fluffy’s Xmas Factor

Mill Theatre, Dundrum

In Shay Healy’s new show, it’s the “Xmas Factor” winner’s big concert, so it’s a big night for Fluffy (Joe Conlon) – but only if she can wear her winner’s diamond crown. Since winning the contest she’s become so famous she’s on mobile-phone terms with Queen Elizabeth – and it’s all proving a bit too much for Simon Cowell (a clever impression by Andrew Holden), who is jealous of her fame.

Fluffy has two sidekicks, Jack (David Gilna) and Jill (Sarah-Jayne Quigley). “I’m Jack, I’m Jill,” they chirp in homage to Jedward, “and together we’re, eh, Jack and Jill.” Evil Simon, in tight top and high-waisted trousers (though his anti-Irish schtick is a bit over the top), hypnotises Jill to steal the diamond crown. The pair of young entertainers are such fine singers and performers that they’re able to establish an instant rapport with the audience, and throughout the short show, there’s a good deal of repartee between audience and stage, which works well in the intimate Mill Theatre.

Needless to say, it all ends well after 70 minutes of fun, laughter, smart quips and singing on a brightly lit and festive set.

Dublin panto-goers will already be on laughing terms with the hilarious Fluffy – for the past five years the brilliant comedic entertainer, Joe Conlon, has played the outrageous Buffy in the Liberty Hall (now Tivoli) panto. Fluffy is her twin, complete with outrageous costumes and wigs. Buffy’s catchphrase was “tanks a tousand”, but either the expression died with her or it’s the recession, as it’s now “tanks a tenner”.

While this has many ingredients of a traditional panto – a baddie, a dame, two helpful innocents and a dim giant (Conor Delaney playing Fluffy's bodyguard) – this is more a Christmas show than a panto, and it's cleverly built on an X Factor theme that the audience will be familiar with. In production terms it's low-key, with a cast of five, no big scene changes and none of the staples of big Christmas shows such as troupes of dancers and child performers, but it's fun, festive and delivers plenty of laughs. Until Jan 10