You’re sure to have a ball!
Panto season has descended upon York, filling York Theatre Royal with excited families chattering over Christmas carols from the York Theatre Royal Choir.
Back in-house after the pandemic, a new pantomime era dawns on York Theatre Royal: This year’s offering, Cinderella, written by Paul Hendy, tells a tale as old as time in a pleasingly modern manner.
The Fairy Godmother is on a mission to get her wings, and so she sets out to help Cinderella, this years’ sweet (but definitely independent) heroine, fall in love with someone for ‘who they are, not what they are.’
It’s a sincere retelling of the original, with all of the cringe and spice that comes in the best pantomimes.
We’ve got double the fun when it comes to dames, and I’m sorry to say that I find myself laughing when I probably shouldn’t be. The ugly sisters are my favourite. It’s in Robin Simpson (Manky) and (Mardy) Paul Hawkyard’s movement and language, never the upfront puns, that sets me off laughing. An audience member behind me puts it succinctly, though: ‘two is better than one.’
Audience participation peaks when the sisters hunt for The Most Handsome Man in the Audience.
Ian, second row back in the stalls, gets the short straw tonight. Very good.
‘Aren’t we brilliant!’ the dastardly duo scream, I know the audience is supposed to say no, but I just can’t bring myself to do it. You are brilliant, Manky and Mardy, and I won’t hear otherwise.
There’s no shortage of talent in this years’ cast, Buttons – a cheeky ventriloquist, aerial dancers (just you wait) and gorgeous vocals from our leading lad, Benjamin Lafayette and lady, Faye Campbell. Kid’s celeb, Andy Day, is great fun and a brilliant dancer, too.
Stretch and the band play tightly around the ebbs and flows of the show, the costumes are appropriately outlandish, and a special mention has to go out to the set designers and producers. This years’ show has ‘wow’ moments by the bucket. No expense seems to have been spared, but to talk about them and spoil it ahead of you going, would be a crime. So, I’ll just leave it there.
It’s cheesy. It’s cheeky. It’s outrageous. It’s the epitome of Christmas.
York Theatre Royal, your work here is done.
Cinderella at York Theatre Royal runs until 2nd January. Find out more here: https://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/cinderella/
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