WICKED witches, flying monkeys, ugly sisters and clever genies are taking over Glasgow - which means it's panto time again.

ANN FOTHERINGHAM sent six intrepid families out to review the funniest and finest pantos in town - here's what they found....

CINDERELLA KING'S THEATRE, GLASGOW

REVIEWED BY: Finlay Scott, 8, and sister Annie, 6, and mum and dad Garry and Anne.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Cinderella's struggle to escape the clutches of her ugly sisters and wicked stepmum and find love with her handsome prince. It stars panto legend Gerard Kelly as Buttons and Karen Dunbar plays both the Fairy Godmother and the Evil Step-mother. Andy Gray plays Baron hardup and Gavin Mutchell and Steven McNicoll are the Ugly Sisters.

BEST BIT: The kids loved the scene where Buttons is hiding down a well and the rest of the cast can't work out where his voice is coming from, while Mum's fave bit was when the male leads turned into 1970s disco crooners - complete with afro wigs and flares. Hilarious.

KIDS' VERDICTS: Finlay: "It was really funny - especially the bit with the wishing well. But how come I never get to catch the sweeties they throw into the audience at the end?

Annie: "I loved the singing and dancing - Cinderella was great."

FUNNIEST CHARACTER: Almost inevitably, Gerard Kelly steals the show as dopey, lovelorn Buttons, but Andy Gray as the buffoonish Baron Hardup runs him pretty close. Karen Dunbar doesn't manage to impose herself as much as she did in last year's King's panto. Playing two, quite small roles, didn't let her light up the stage as much as I'd hoped.

SCARIEST CHARACTER: The wicked Stepmother, of course. Although some of the Ugly Sisters costumes were pretty horrific!

MARKS OUT OF TEN: Annie gave it 9, Finlay gave it 9 and mum and dad gave it 8. Total 8.5. Cinderella is at the King's until January 11. Call 0870 060 6648

WIZARD OF OZ CITIZENS THEATRE, GLASGOW

REVIEWED BY: The Shields family, of Kelvindale - Daniel, 6, and Louis, 4, and their mum and dad Graham and Kate.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT: This joyous stage version of the movie classic sees Kansas farm girl Dorothy (Helen McAlpine, far right) and faithful hound Toto transported to the magical land of Oz by a tornado. Shod in sparkly ruby slippers and arm in arm with new pals Scarecrow, Tinman and Lion, Dorothy leads a jaunty journey along the yellow brick road to the Emerald City.

BEST BIT: Fantastic sound and light help the performers make the best of this well choreographed show.

With fabulous costumes and great sets we all felt transported to Oz.

KIDS' VERDICT: "Ding dong the witch is dead," the boys said a few times the next day - they could hardly speak at the end because they had been so involved in the show.

FUNNIEST CHARACTER: The Cowardly Lion gets the best laughs and a glass-eyed performance from Toto cheered up dog lovers in the audience. This is a comfort feeding grin-fest rather than a big belly laugh of a show.

SCARIEST CHARACTER: Not a classic panto villain, but the Wicked Witch fits the bill and is well in need of boos.

MARKS OUT OF TEN: 9 Until January 3. Box Office 0141 429 0022

MOTHER BRUCE TRON THEATRE, GLASGOW

REVIEWED BY: Yvonne Flynn and Phoebe Brocklebank, 11.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? It's a new Scottish take on the old Mother Goose tale. Instead of a goose, Mother Bruce and her smelly son have a spider which spins golden thread from its bum. But in an act of treachery, Spotty the spider is traded in by mum in exchange for a sexy makeover and poor Spotty ends up in the clutches of the baddie Alexander Salamander. Needless to say after many panto-style antics, Spotty is reunited with her rightful family.

BEST BIT: The opening scene bursts into life and is matched by a series of highlights including a very funny train journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh and a courtroom scene with the audience playing the jury.

KIDS' VERDICT: A lot of the jokes were aimed at adults but it was still funny. I loved the story though - and the songs and the spider.

FUNNIEST CHARACTER: Mother Bruce (George Drennan) closely followed by Spotty the Spider (Natalie Toyne).

SCARIEST CHARACTER: Alexander Salamander (Stewart Porter), is the only character who even comes close to being scary.

MARKS OUT OF TEN: 9 Until January 4. Box Office 0141 552 4267

THE ENCHANTING TALE OF ALADDIN AND THE MAGICAL LAMP CUMBERNAULD THEATRE

REVIEWED BY: The Smith family - Adam, 5, and his mum, Helen, and Adam's pals Ross Neilson, 5, and Evan Lang, 5, all of Cumbernauld.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? After telling the Sultan 1000 stories, a group of travelling players believe they have run out and fear for their future.

However, their master just happens to have the 1001st tale up his sleeve, and he begins to tell the story of Aladdin and the genie of the lamp.

This was a fantastic panto, full of music, comic acting and quick changes, with great lighting and the simplest of sets.

Ian Saxon led the way as Abanazer, a baddie who looked and sounded the part to a tee; Steven Rae was the gauche Aladdin; Imogen Toner was the pretty and feisty Princess Yasmin; Chris Alexander was hilarious as Karif and the Sultan; and Susan Coyle was a scene stealer as windae cleaner Window Twankey.

The production harked back to traditional storytelling, and because of that, was a winner - but for Adam and his friends, the fact that Aladdin decided to use their seats to hide from the palace guards made it a real night to remember.

BEST BIT: Interaction with the children - the wee genies.

KIDS' VERDICT: Magic, funny, brilliant.

FUNNIEST CHARACTER: Karif SCARIEST CHARACTER: Abanazer MARKS OUT OF TEN: 9 Until December 24. Box Office 01236 732887

THE WIZARD OF OZ MOTHERWELL THEATRE

REVIEWED BY: The Warren family, from Strathaven - Amy, 10 and Katie, 6, and mum and dad Lenny and Alison WHAT'S IT ABOUT? The kids had seen the movie, but were excited about seeing a panto version. And they were not disappointed - the show got off to a great musical start with loads of yee-haa's and Kansas folk having a hoe down.

As the story unfolded, there were laughs aplenty and the singing and dancing was first rate. As good as any of the big city pantos, with the smaller Motherwell Theatre feeling much more personal.

Great mix of songs, humour and drama performed by an excellent cast - even a slight technical hitch with a prop turned into marvellous ad-libs.

Overall an excellent pantomime, blending tradition and modern day fun - kids of all ages will have a great night.

BEST BIT: The comic antics of the Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Man. There were plenty of funny moments and topical humour.

The kids were extremely impressed with Toto, played by a local Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Much better behaved than our family pet! I wonder if we can book him?

KIDS' VERDICT: Very funny!

FUNNIEST CHARACTER: The Scarecrow steals the show, with his funny voices. The kids loved his Scooby Doo and Shaggy impersonations.

SCARIEST CHARACTER: Unsurprisingly the Wicked Witch. The superb visual and sound effects really helped create a truly spooky atmosphere MARKS OUT OF TEN: 10 Until January 4. Box Office 01698 403120

THE WIZARD OF NEVER WOZ PAVILION THEATRE, GLASGOW

REVIEWED BY:Ciaran Sharkey, 9, and Tiernan McEnroe, 11, and their mums Linda and Susan, from Cathcart.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? A festive take on The Wizard of Oz, with a typically Glasgow approach to the whole thing. Dorothy and her pals, the Scarecrow, the Lion and the Tin Man, battle the wicked witch. But instead of Kansas, the uproarious battle between good and evil takes place in Govan.

Everyone gets sent up from Tommy Sheridan to Gordon Strachan and Walter Smith. The plot is as threadbare as a worn carpet, but who cares. It's a fun-filled night from start to end!

Best bit: When Dorothy, Tin Man, The Lion and The Scarecrow went through the scary forest. It was fantastic. And the storm scenes were very realistic.

KIDS' VERDICTS: Ciaran: "It was pretty good. There were a lot of laughs and I thought all the main characters were great. But I didn't get all of the jokes."

Tiernan: "Everyone was great at getting the audience to join in. I've already told my mum I want to go back."

FUNNIEST CHARACTER: Des McLean takes the plaudits as the Tin Man. Brilliant Glasgow patter throughout that conjured up memories of a young Billy Connolly and an old Chic Murray. And Dean Park deserves a mention for his turn as the lion.

SCARIEST CHARACTER: It wasn't so much a character as a voice. Derek Lord's booming tones as the wizard even had the adults cowering!

MARKS OUT OF TEN: 8 Until January 24. Box Office 0141 332 1846