From rags to bitches Panto Review Cinderella Its 17 years since Jurassic Park first wowed cinema audiences with its fancy CGI but our appetite for all things dinosaur-related endures. Hence Londons Natural History Museum has pimped out this touring exhibition, a non-stop thrill ride of life-size animatronic beasts that roar and grapple as you walk past. And thats all, folks. Not at all the blockbuster expo that it purports to be, Dinosaur Encounter is more Barney Rubble than Michael Crichton. An Oviraptor, a family of Triceratops and leading monster, Tyrannosaurus Rex, blink, breathe and bluster in unimpressive simulated habitats, while insufficiently labelled museum quality replicas of skulls, claws and teeth have cameo roles. Perhaps the budget was blown on making the models as scientifically correct as possible, but any supporting material is woefully absent; theres no overview of the Jurassic period nor archeological developments while a series of excavational photographs have captions as succinct as revealing the bones (Where? When? Bones of what?) and the facts that accompany each model are as extensive as Top Trumps. Of course, the exhibition is aimed at children aged four to 11 years, and the picture walls of hand-drawn dinosaurs imply fun school trips. But if one youngsters response to its supposed star attraction, the T Rex, is anything to go by (...but its not scary), then theres nothing particularly entertaining, much less educational here, unless youre knee high to a Lesothaurus. Lucy White Ongoing, Ambassador Theatre, OConnell Street D1, daily 10am to 8pm, 8 to 10. Tel: 0818 719 300. TV Pick Of The Day Taoiseach TV3, 9pm Think you have what it takes to be Taoiseach? This new TV3 series may make you reassess as it reveals the sacrifices and suffering involved in the highest office in the land, alongside the memorable moments that have defined our nation. It kicks off tonight with WT Cosgraves attempts to drag us out of a civil war mentality, accompanied by the story of the Long Fellow himself, Eamon De Valra (pictured), and his rise to power. Adam Hyland The internet is abuzz with news of a survey by Adams Childrenswear in which Suri Cruise emerges as most fashionable child celebrity. Her reaction to this accolade is unknown; aged three, I doubt shes yet up to penning a gushing acceptance speech in joined-up writing. With a wardrobe said to be worth in excess of 2million and her parents designer chums reportedly on call to cobble together red-carpet couture, will she give two hoots about the endorsement of a British childrens clothiers? While her contemporaries discover Crocs, Cruise is already exciting podiatrists by stepping out in heels not a trend daddy would ever adopt, clearly. With such highly developed fashion antennae, how long before the pint-sized prodigy is editing Vogue? Call me squeamish, but isnt there something deeply creepy about infants as fashion icons? Couldnt TomKat have made do with a Barbie? Keith Barker-Main PLANET CELEB Welcome to the world of Suri Cruise Exhibition Review Dinosaur Encounter Me, Me, Me: Inside the minds of celebrities Today: Viggo Mortensen, from his recent interviews On his worst ever job: [It] was in a factory in Denmark when I was 20. All day long, I had to punch a single hole in the centre of a square piece of metal. On facing up to his fears of death in new post-apocalypse film The Road: After doing this movie, and seeing this movie, Im just happy to be alive. On justifying his extreme method acting: There is a strange wizened quality to my face in The Road that is beyond any make-up, and beyond any explanation. It happens in movies, every once in a while. You go further than you intended. There are looks on my face in that film that have only come from a great leap of faith. On his (very) restless temperament: Just in the confines of my own house, Ill jump from record to record, book to book, painting to photos, step outside, take a picture of the land, paint, whatever. Put on a video. Or just sit there and think. I dont know. I like to travel, inside and outside, and probably all over the world... On where hed go if he could go back in time: To the first Viking ship to land in North America. On what hed do if the acting jobs dried up: Its not the end of the world if I cant get a film job, or if a movie doesnt turn out well even though I dont like it when that happens. There are other things I enjoy doing. Its not like if Im out of work Im thinking, What am I going to do? Id better take a bunch of drugs. Sharon Lougher Its hard not to feel conspicuous when you arrive at a Christmas panto without at least one toddler in tow to justify your presence. And as if I didnt feel self-conscious enough, Id hardly taken my seat at the Tivoli before I was unceremoniously assailed from behind by a slavering four-year-old who proceeded to clutch my collar in a vice- like grip and beat me about the head with a glow stick. Thankfully, once the curtains were raised, the aggression died down and all eyes were on Cinderella (Sinad Mulvey) and her camp, colourful cohorts. This cheering take on a panto favourite, directed by Simon Delaney, sees Prince Charming (Elliot Moriarty) enjoy a fleeting encounter with a cute scrubber who disappears before he has time to ask her name. The prince decides to host a ball and invite everyone in his kingdom in the hope his true love will make an appearance. But the odds are stacked against the pair being reunited given Cinderella is so busy tending to her wicked step-mother and two ugly step-sisters Buffy (John Lovett) and Bridie (Brian Dowling). Luckily for Cinders she has her trusted pals Sammy Jedward Sausages (Alan Hughes) and Fairy Big Sister (Pippa OConnor) to fight her corner. This a real crowd-pleaser of a show with plenty of oh no he isnt moments for the kids and more than one or two inspired bawdy jokes to entertain their parents. Mulvey and Moriarty make for a heart-warming coupling but its Lovetts and Dowlings spiky tranny act that steals the show. But one note of caution: the sight of Alan Hughes in an adult baby-grow will stay with you well into the new year. Daragh Reddin Until Jan 17, Tivoli Theatre, 135 Francis Street D8, various times, 29.50. Tel: (01) 454 4472. www.tivoli.ie highly developed fashion antennae, how long before the pint-sized prodigy is squeamish, but isnt there something deeply creepy about infants as fashion icons? Couldnt TomKat have made do with a Barbie? Keith Barker-Main D Thursday, January 7, 2010 metrolife 21 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html28.html29.html30.html31.html