Cinderella

Review by Jack

⭐⭐

There’s one too many fish puns in the sea as the classic story of Cinderella gets a north London makeover in this fishy, fun-filled pantomime.

With a twist that includes a Fairy Codmother, this production is swimming in laughs, though not all of them land with perfect comedic timing. The Fairy Codmother, played by the delightful Lucia Vineyard, seems to cast her line, fishing for every laugh she can hook, and at times it felt like the humor was a bit too forced. It’s the prime example of slapstick comedy, but the punchlines didn’t always hit the mark.

This year’s production also offers an adult version, which somehow seeps through the family-friendly surface with ease. The adult humor sneaks in, making me wonder if the PG version was created after the adult one, with just a few kid-friendly changes to the language and costumes.

Ella Vaday and Harry Curley bring the witty charm we all know and love to this classic tale. Their localized references, from their characters’ names of Peckham and Dalston to their outfits featuring Ikea and Sports Direct bags, add a playful London touch that makes the production feel fresh and relatable.

One stand-out scene comes from the karaoke talk-along between the Fairy Codmother and the two stepsisters, which had the audience fully engaged and longing for more of this cheeky interaction.

However, the true moment that gave me the quintessential panto feeling was at the end when the dance-along and audience participation brought everything together in an upbeat, feel-good finale. It’s this infectious energy and connection with the crowd that truly made this production shine.

If you’re casting your net for a panto this season, there might be a few bigger fish in the sea to reel in before this one.