Review by Paul Towers, 17/12/22
Cinderella by Will Brenton (adapted by Eric Potts)
Directed by Janice Dunn
Produced by Imagine Theatre
At DeMontfort Hall til Sunday 2nd January 2023
“a most traditional of pantomimes”
Once again Leicester is blessed with a superlative Imagine Theatre pantomime. This year it is Cinderella, the story of a put upon daughter of an evil stepmother and her ugly (inside) step daughters. Dreaming of breaking free after her father dies, Cinderella is presented with a way out. Love and marriage to a handsome prince. Maybe they could even flee to California and a Netflix deal! (sorry, I made that last bit up!)
So the scene is set for this most traditional of pantomimes.
A talented cast led by dance duo AJ & Curtis Pritchard of Strictly and Love Island respectively and, replacing injured Leicester stalwart Martin Ballard is Richard J Fletcher as Dame Penny Pockets. Returning for his second panto in Leicester is the appropriately named New Zealand comic Jared Christmas as Buttons. The title role of Cinderella is Evie Pickerill, a CBBC favourite who has a most enchanting voice. On which subject it has to be noted that Curtis Pritchard has a great singing voice. Who knew?
The Pritchard boys have great fun with some fine slapstick moments while Richard J Fletchers’ dame copes wonderfully with both the silly songs and the audience interaction.
As the villainous stepmother Baroness Verruca Wibble, Jacob Kholi whips up a storm of boos whenever he/she makes an entrance. While the ugly sisters, Claudia & Tess Wibble (I wonder where the inspiration for those names came from?) Sophie Camble and Millie Robins, shriek like Essex harridans as they try and impress Prince Charming.
Appearing from the wings just as things threaten to get out of hand Madison Swan’s Fairy Godmother wields her magic wand to make everything right. Her greatest feat is, at the end of the first half, creating a beautiful stagecoach and white horse that flies off to the castle with Cinderella realising her dream. Cinderella’s dress transformation from drudge to princess got gasps from the young audience around me.
An ensemble of talented young actors are supplemented with the traditional coterie of local dancers. Tonight it was the Buttons Team who injected some youthful energy into proceedings.
This family friendly production is littered with awful puns, lots of cheese jokes, local references and a few gags for the grown ups. A perfect festive treat for everyone.
Cinderella is at DeMontfort Hall until Sunday 2nd January 2023 with a specially relaxed performance on Wednesday 28th December at 1pm and a BSL performance at the 5pm performance on the same date
www.demontforthall.co.uk/event/cinderella/
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