Michael D Higgins and Angela Merkel make poor pantomime villains

Michael Brennan enjoyed Polly and the Beanstalk at the Olympia Theatre, but found the choice of villains unconvincing

President Michael D Higgins: an unlikely pantomime villain. Pic: RollingNews.ie

I recently had the pleasure of going with my family to the Olympia Theatre for their Polly and the Beanstalk Christmas panto.

You might have heard about it because of the sudden change of casting, with comedian Al Porter replaced by Mrs Browns Boy's Star Rory Cowan.

At this stage, it is nearing the end of its run but it still has more than enough of the classic panto elements to keep children ...