Jimmy Chisholm is a man who favours the Dr Martens, trowelled on make-up and ridiculous multi-coloured tent dress approach when dameing, leaving the audience in no doubt whatsoever that the wummin on stage is most certainly a man.
Not for him the stage subtlety of Stanley Baxter, who was keen to suggest an essence of femininity, attached to a knowing that the fabulousness is all a front. “I love playing her as man pretending to be a woman, all too often acting alongside a woman pretending to be a young boy,” says Chisholm, laughing.
The actor certainly knows what works for him. After all, this appearance as Dame Trot in Jack and the Beanstalk in Greenock is his 40th panto. “The first was in 1976 in Inverness at Eden Court, where I played Friar Tuck in Robin Hood,” he recalls. “I think Ann Louise Ross was Robin. But it was a tough one to do because it was so heavily scripted and written in rhyming couplets, which left no room whatsoever for improv, or breaking the fourth wall. After a few performances it was monotonous, a bit boring to perform.”
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But over the years, he learned how to have real fun with panto. Chisholm explains that he gained so much from the late, great Jimmy Logan.
“I was appearing with him in Inverness, and it was at the time in his life when he was becoming a little confused. As young actor, I would sometimes come running on stage, only to hear him saying my line. So, I’d laugh and say to him ‘Do you want me to say your line now?’ And I’d explain what had happened, but he was always relaxed about it, and we’d swap lines, which taught me that when you make a mistake in panto it doesn’t really matter because the audience love a bit of confusion.
“And my experience with Jimmy was so wonderful, teaching me that this is all about joy, that we’re not trying to cure cancer, just trying to make people laugh.” He adds, grinning. “Panto is as mad as you want it to be.”
Jimmy Chisholm’s acting career was almost pre-ordained. “My parents were am-dram actors,” he explains. “I loved watching them on stage, and when I was nine, I appeared alongside my dad in Antigone, getting a couple of lines to say as the page boy.” He laughs. “But the reviews I got were great and my dad took the huff that I was getting all the attention.”
He adds, “But my parents were so proud of me. They came to every show I ever did. And my dad used to say to me ‘Remember, son, when you walk out on stage, we’ll be sitting in the audience watching you.’ And I still feel that every time I go on.”
The Chisholm parents encouraged their son every step of the way to developing an acting career. They were immensely proud when he left drama school and landed a top role of teen heartthrob Jimmy Blair in STV soap Take the High Road. He’s still in soap, having become a favourite in BBC Scotland’s River City, playing Sonny Caplan. “Everything about my career has amazed me,” he says, the wonderment in his voice shining through.
Chisholm, thankfully, has never been injured. “The big challenge is to avoid colds and flu. But it can be tough; we’re doing three shows on a Saturday. Yet, the adrenaline keeps you going - then in January you go to bed for two weeks.”
Three shows a day? Chisholm however loves panto, and the current River City actor is now enjoying a 10-year run at the Beacon, playing alongside Still Game favourites Jane McCarry and Mark Cox and local favourite Lee Samuel. But three shows is a tough gig, Jimmy.
Does he ever find himself saying a line from the second act of the first show when he’s now on the first act of the second show? “Oh, yes!” he says, his voice booming in perfect Dame Trot. “But that’s what I love about the whole panto adventure. It’s mad, and it’s wonderful. It’s almost the last bastion of true family theatre. Socially, it’s a place where you can go with your granny, your brother or anyone.
“And the Inverclyde area has really taken the panto to their hearts. It’s lovely.”
Jack and the Beanstalk, the Beacon Theatre, Greenock, December 7-31.
Santa’s Magical Lighthouse, an under- fives show, is written by Andy McGregor, which guarantees a quality story. Can the lighthouse guide Santa home after delivering all the presents on Christmas Eve? And can Boo get the lighthouse working to get Santa back?
The Macrobert Theatre, Stirling, December 3-31.
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