'Cinderella' Panto Review
From now until Jan 6
Address: Lyric Square, King St, London W6 0QL. Get directions.
Our verdict
Every year in London, there’s a battle for the capital’s ‘coolest’ panto, and I think Lyric Hammersmith’s 2023 offering might just take the fairy-tale crown.
This year, it is the turn of Cinderella, written by the queen of panto herself - award-winning writer and composer Vikki Stone.
A refreshingly far cry from the Disney version, her sassy Cinders is a bonafide boss-lady who runs her own business at Shepherd’s Bush Market. Here, she sells clothes for rodents (yes, rodents), which she has hand-knitted herself. Before long, she meets Prince Henry with the paparazzi in hot pursuit and so unravels this timeless tale, but not as you or I know it…
Stone’s brilliant script is a balanced mix of good old-fashioned panto fun, above-average slapstick, some clever topical quips, and a few sentimental moments that manage to avoid being overly mushy.
The entire company, skilfully directed by Tonderai Munyevu, are marvellous. There are a few familiar faces from previous years which I was thrilled to see, namely the wonderful Jodie Jacobs, who sparkles as the loveable Fairy Godmother and is also terrific as Minty – Prince Henry’s posh, pushy aide who is secretly feeding stories about him to the press.
Also returning to pantoland is the one and only Emmanuel Akwafo, who plays Cinders’ wicked stepmother, Lady Jelly-Bottom. Akwafo steals the show with his sassy jokes, dirty dancing and undisputable charisma. His jaw-dropping rendition of Sam Smith’s ‘Unholy’, accompanied by daughters Muffy and Gusset, is a roof-raising highlight.
Damien James is perfect as the innocent Prince who yearns for an ‘ordinary life’ and to go to ‘ordinary places’ ‘like Soho House’. Charlie Cameron and Meghan Treadway are brilliant as the Made in Chelsea-esque stepsisters Muffy and Gusset - leaping, gyrating and high kicking their way across the stage in their pony-patterned pyjamas, scrapping and squealing whenever an invitation arrives from ‘the palaaaaaars’.
The rodents are also excellent – particularly Cinderella’s Buttons-esque gerbil, mysteriously played by a ‘Jamie N. Edams’, with a fabulous voice that sounds suspiciously similar to that of Prince Henry’s…
And in Tilly La Belle Yengo, who plays Cinderella, a star is born. Twinkling with raw talent and boundless energy, she sings and dances like a dream and is incredibly likeable from start to finish. Her touching version of Taylor Swift’s ‘Anti-hero’ is wonderfully effective, even with most of the audience tearfully accompanying her.
Speaking of singalongs – ‘Glory, Glory Hammersmith’ makes a most welcome return.
There are eye-popping sets and fantastical costumes from Good Teeth, and excellent high-energy choreography set to a sensational soundtrack of original numbers (there’s a particularly good one about Shepherds Bush Market) and familiar pop songs that have been given a panto makeover.
At times, it was a struggle to make out some of the cleverly tweaked lyrics over the brilliant live band, but the audience seemed to get the gist regardless.
There are plenty of surprises along the way, including an outrageous game of egg roulette, some furious speed dating for the Prince, and the moment when Cinderella’s mode of transportation to the ball is revealed. I won’t ruin the surprise, but let’s just say that it’s not the traditional carriage that you might expect…
As always, the Lyric’s festive spectacular is a witty, rip-roaring romp that will delight both adults and children alike. Two hours (incl. an interval) gallops along at a good pace, and there’s a wonderfully wild and joyful feeling to the whole production that is irresistibly fun.
More than 24 hours later, my cheeks still hurt from smiling so much, and I feel well and truly filled with the joy of ‘Hammersmithmas’.
From now until 6 Jan 2024, tickets from £10, ages 6+ https://lyric.co.uk/shows/cinderella2023/
At the Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King St, London W6 0QL
Lyric Hammersmith
Lyric Square, King Street, City of London, W6 0QL
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