The Hatters love a panto (oh yes we do, etc etc…sorry, it’s a given in a panto review!) and very much missed our annual visits in 2020. We were all very excited to see Cinderella last night at York Theatre Royal, produced by Evolution Productions for the first time.
Also for the first time, the show features a celebrity from the telly! CBeebies favourite Andy Day plays Dandini, and arrives to a resounding cheer. Instantly likeable, his rapport with the audience works wonders. Gags fly thick and fast, and his singing voice is great and used well throughout. I was expecting the odd dinosaur reference though (I half-expected dinosaurs to replace ghosts in the classic spooky forest routine actually!)
Max Fulham plays Buttons, and this is one of many smart casting choices by Evolution. It’s clear to see why Max won Best Speciality Act in 2020 – he really is the ultimate Buttons, with the right balance of naivety and daftness!
His ventriloquism skills, which he has honed to perfection, are the icing on the (Christmas) cake, whether it’s his loveable and cheeky monkey Gordon or talking props on the set. We very much hope he returns in 2022, and would make a great Smee!
There’s nothing like a dame, and in Cinders you get two for the price of one! Robin Simpson and Paul Hayward play the Ugly Sisters Manky and Mardy, admitting straight away they’re men dressed as women (one of many modern twists on the usual panto fodder) As baddies, they somehow manage to be both bad and likeable – no small feat!
Fabulous frocks, snappy put-downs, and plenty of audience interaction – our eldest mini Hatter loved shouting back, and they relished the banter!
Elsewhere, a funky and down-to-earth fairy (Sarah Lafayette) keeps the plot pacey with rhyming couplets, and does a commendable job with her foot in a cast. Maybe a ‘break a leg’ gag wouldn’t be inappropriate in the script as it wasn’t referenced, but it certainly looked the part with glittery trim!
Faye Campbell’s Cinderella is likeable and takes no nonsense (not needing a man to validate her!), Benjamin Lafayette’s Prince Charming is suitably…well…charming, and the dancers and singers all ooze energy and enthusiasm. Special mention must go to the beautiful, and unexpected, aerial silk act.
In fact, there were many unexpected moments…yes this is traditional panto but has plenty of twists and turns too. Even setting the forest scene at a Winter Fair (complete with strongman, stalls and sideshows) was an inspired choice!
It’s refreshing here that no single cast member steals the show or hogs the spotlight. Instead, this is a balanced cast that works really well as an ensemble.
If The Shoe Fits
With the big panto debacle of 2019, comparisons to previous years are inevitable. To be honest though, we’ve never been part of the Berwick brigade. We didn’t grow up hollering ‘babbies and bairns’ and trying to catch Wagon Wheels, and when we came to the shows as latecomers we felt like outsiders and didn’t enjoy them. Many of the in-jokes went over our heads, and in general it felt aimed squarely at the adults, rather than having a true family focus as panto should.
It felt like time for a change, and we applaud the Theatre Royal for trying something new. Boy did it pay off too, Cinderella was far better than any panto we’ve seen at the Theatre Royal previously. Not only that, we’ve seen and reviewed countless pantos up and down the country – and this is actually one of the best we’ve seen full stop!
Flying High
This is a slick and polished production packed with sumptuous sets, gorgeous costumes and flashy special effects. Our only niggle was with the flying horse and carriage at the end of the first act. Unfortunately the lack of fog meant that, as it turned a corner, the mechanism was plain to see which spoiled what could’ve been a wondrous moment. It might’ve been a technical blip though, and we’re only early in the panto run.
There were many highlights including punchy and original songs, gags I genuinely haven’t heard (and I do a lot of jokes in my own shows!) and a fantastic Disney characters routine which I won’t spoil! Our two mini Hatters (aged 5 and 8) loved it too, plenty of giggles and a plot they could actually follow and enjoy – rooting for the main characters, and the baddies to get their comeuppance!
We all know Christmas can be an expensive time, so does Cinderella offer good value? Tickets range from £15 to £42 per person, which is in-line with other full-scale pantomimes. Given the draw of Andy Day, the high production values throughout and top notch cast and crew, we feel the ticket price is justified for a festive treat.
A breath of fresh air, packed with family fun and laughter. In short, we had a ball!
We can’t wait to see how Evolution work their magic on The New Adventures of Peter Pan in 2022. Tickets now on sale!
MAGIC RATING
VALUE FOR MONEY
OVERALL
Cinderella runs until Sunday 2nd January, and tickets can be booked via the York Theatre Royal website
Disclaimer: Tickets were kindly provided for this performance, however all opinions are honest and are our own.
Review Wizard 