Nothing could be more Christmassy than a classic pantomime that gets you booing, cheering and feeling magical. Hackney Empire’s Cinderella gets the audience in the festive spirit with all its traditional tropes brushed over with a modern gloss.Cinderella (Aisha Jawando) is horrified to find out her father has gotten remarried to the awful Countess Anastia (Susie McKenna) and now must spend her days washing, cleaning, and cooking for her odious step-sisters Queeniqua (Tony Whittle) and Victiqua (Kat B). The tale that ensues is as old as time but writer and director (also Susie McKenna) throws in heaps of contemporary references, Brexit and Trump being key, and current chart songs from artists like Adele, Rag’n’Bone Man, Ed Sheeran and more.
Press and guest night may not have created the most typical panto audience, but when the beautiful, grand auditorium is filled with families and young ones the atmosphere will be incredible. Opportunities for interaction are plentiful and Buttons (Darren Hart) does a fantastic job of getting everyone ready for some classic panto call and responses. However, if you are a young man sat in the stalls, be careful in case Queenie and Vic catch your eye!
Every actor took their part by the horns, but a particular stand-out was Prince Charming’s man servant Dandini (Stephane Anelli), a sarcastic Italian desperate not to be deported. Anelli and Prince Charming (Chris Jenkins) had a brilliant dynamic and the tap dance sequence was a real highlight of the show. Another magical moment was the reveal of Cinderella’s carriage - not to give anything away but it will take you into the interval with your jaw-dropped.
The second half was much pacier than the first, but with a running time of 2hrs 45mins (including an interval) younger children might become a little fatigued. The interaction will keep them engaged but there are also plenty of long solo numbers which could perhaps be trimmed slightly. Also, whenever a character encountered the Fairy Godmother (Krysten Cummings) they started speaking in verse, which was more awkward than effective.
Cinderella runs until New Year’s Eve and Hackney Empire’s panto always delivers a wonderful night out for families, but also for adults who can get into the spirit of the season, soak up the cheese, and cheer their hearts out when Donald Trump isn’t allowed into the ball.
The Gruffalo’s Child, which opened this week at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue is a sweet reworking of Julia Donaldson’s charming story. We follow the Gruffalo’s brave daughter who, in spite of her father’s warnings, ventures into the deep dark woods to see just how scary the ‘Big Bad Mouse’ really is. 