From the moment Strictly star Joanne Clifton stepped onstage as the Fairy, I knew we were in safe hands, and the show didn’t disappoint.
Joanne Clifton brought her Strictly sparkle to the stage, as the Fairy who had yet to earn her magic wand. She also had a down-to-earth charm as she engaged the audience with her cheeky charm.
Accompanying her rhyming couplets, she performed snippets of ballroom dance and fans were treated to her dance expertise with a show-stopping ballroom dance at the ball.
The production’s energy only grew as the show progressed.
Gordon Cooper as Ugly Sister Aldianna and Matt Daines as Lidleena commanded the stage with their outrageously large costumes and cheeky humour.
From full-scale champagne bottle costumes, to full pink fluffy dog outfits, their ever-more-lavish costumes were worth the ticket price alone. They roared onstage to ‘Bad to the Ballroom’ setting the tone for their bully-boy personas. “Aren’t we brilliant?” they crowed. The audience response? A resounding no, to which they replied, “Oh shut up”’ Their gags hit all ages, humour for the children, some cheeky smut for the adults. Chris Carter, an audience member in the front row, took the brunt of their jokes with good grace – earning himself a round of applause.
Traditional pantomime staples like audience participation, corny puns, and slapstick routines were executed with precision, adding to the fun. The “Ghostbusters” bench scene was a particular highlight, as the cast’s chemistry shone through and they seemed to be having a ball on stage.
Dave Bibby as Buttons and CBeebies’ Andy Day as Andini brought cheeky charm and high-energy mischief to the stage. Both seemed born for their roles, balancing comedy with heart and anchoring the show with their vibrant personalities.
Marcavia McCarthy and Marcellus Whyte were a charming Cinderella and Prince Charming, delivering superb vocals and a sweet chemistry that kept the fairytale magic alive.
Paul Hendy’s script brought contemporary nuances to the classic tale. While the popular film, Wicked showcases themes of self-esteem, discrimination and identity, the theme of resilience and girl power was woven throughout Cinderella, with Cinderella showing first vulnerability and then defiance as the victim of the bully-boy Ugly Sisters.
Samuel Stokes added humour with his exuberant appearances and the younger ensemble cast delivered their roles with enthusiasm and sass.
The set and costumes were stunning, with gorgeous lighting bathing the stage in fairytale hues. A particular highlight was the magnificent golden carriage and horse floating through the sky at the end of the first half.
Every element came together seamlessly to deliver a high-octane pantomime packed with fun for the whole family. With fantastic musical numbers and a rock-solid cast whose talents shone throughout, this was a polished pantomime.
Cinderella is at Royal & Derngate theatre until 31st December 2024.