Cinderella is
one of the best pantomime titles but sometimes it starts to feel tired and old
fashioned with old gags about nine carrot necklaces, fox hunting and picking up
sticks in the woods. It is very refreshing when the producers (Qdos) and writer
Alan McHugh give it a lively update, telling the basic story but making space
for a large amount of brilliant Panto business. When you see the same title
within a few days by the same producer and writer you begin to see their production
process. With 35 pantomimes in all to produce it is a machine-like production
line that produces a basic script, selects main songs, slots in special effects
and sets and then gest the local Director to incorporate the casts own business
in the spaces left. The result is a fast-paced two-hour show In Manchester
Opera house and Woking New Victoria where large segments are the same, but the
shows differentiated by their cast. Both feature a smooth transformation from
the kitchen with a pumpkin man into the flying carriage for a spectacular act 1
finale borrowed from the London Palladium production of two years ago.
Manchester Opera House
driven along by a hilarious Ben Nickless as Buttons with wonderful support by
two excellent Ugly sisters Connor McIntyre as Phelina and Les Dennis as
Michaela. The Uglies work well together McIntyre constantly eyeing the audience
with a wicked smile and reaching out to hold Dennis’s hand, Dennis delivering
his lines in a dry way which is evil and yet likeable at the same time.
They seamlessly integrate Nickless's comedy and
impressions into the show and from his first entrance out of the magic boxes
piled on stage he holds centre stage and has the audience laughing and eating
out of his hands. He interacts well with the Dames in a succession of scenes
that steal the show, some great lap top gags, a lesson in wooing, an excellent
Apple Watch routine, a fast show recap, a nice routine with a Teddy and a
wonderfully timed "if I was not upon the stage routine ". On his own he entertains us with his
impressions (Michael McIntyre, Ozzy Osbourne, Alan Carr, Take That, and Jose
Mourinho) and an old Elvis routine learned from a broken record.
He also has charming comedy scenes with Cinderella, a
very good pantomime debut from Shannon Flynn, as he reviews his record
collection to cheer her up instead of the usual imagined carriage routine and
when he sings first with a guitar and then on a wall in woods with her and the
Prince, Gareth Gates. There is a strong feel of a cast of equals working hard
together to deliver the show.
There is also an excellent Fairy Godmother, by singer
Hayley-Ria Christian who gets several very good songs with the ensemble most
notably in the woods with a host of pantomime characters.
The sets and costumes are very good with a lovely
Italianate perspective to the village for the opening song "At the opera
house" and two toy dogs to accompany the Uglies entrance
This is a funny slick show with a good mix of silly and
adult humour, great songs and dances and a little bit of magic but most of all
it showcases Ben Nickless’s comedy talents perfectly.
The Woking New Victoria
version is led by Craig Revel Horwood who is outstanding as Baroness Hardup (and
replaces the Ugly Sister’s main business in Manchester with those roles
relegated to smaller walk-ons). He is magnificent in “Look at me” and in the
Dance competition at the Ball and his disdainful looks and his Strictly Come Dancing
Persona is curiously loveable and detestable at the same time.
The comedy is lead by the wonderful Paul Chuckle who after
51 years of pantomime with his brother Barry (who sadly died earlier this year)
plays Baron Hardup. He recreates all his famous Chuckle Brother routines with
the help of Buttons, comedian Phil Butler. Just as at the Mayflower last year we
are treated to the old routines of Goldilocks, If I were not at Hard up Hall,
Costume making routine and the magic cucumber routine. He is held in such high
esteem and affection that the audience love it and enjoy the familiar gags, faux
corpsing and brilliant comic timing. Butler himself has a lovely moment making
a rose out of a paper tissue.
The result is a fun familiar show, true to the traditions
of pantomime and suitable for the whole family and unless you too want to try
the 3-hour drive between them, then I urge you to go to the nearest one to you!
Nick Wayne
Manchester
Opera House 5 Stars
Woking New Victoria 4 stars
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