Cinderella, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
★★★★★
… a bit naughty at times, but always nice and quite magnificent
Producers Crossroads Pantomimes and Capital Theatres hit the jackpot with this year’s King’s panto in its penultimate year at the Festival Theatre, presenting a dazzling Cinderella just for Edinburgh.
From the opening sprite ballet and Allan Stewart’s death-defying entrance, through to a glittering finale of which even Stanley Baxter would approve, this fast-paced feast of music and laughter, with just a dash of anarchy, reinvents the age old story of Cinderella, all the time ensuing its most magical moments are delivered along the way.
To do this, Ed Curtis has directed a slick ensemble piece. The three familiar faces of Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young are all present and correct but alongside them is a stellar cast that work every bit as hard to raise the bar and make this a very special evening.
Stewart, this year as Faerie May, joins the sprite chorus at the top of the show with an upbeat rendition of Man, I Feel Like a Faerie (if you know Shania Twain, you’ll know the tune) that sets energy levels for the next two hours. Driving the narrative throughout, the youthful 74-year-old is at his finest when delivering rapid fire impressions or cajoling unsuspecting audience members on stage. It’s a time when anything can happen and Stewart’s years of ad-libbing on the variety and cabaret circuits pay dividends. On press night, the kids brought onstage to form his children’s orchestra may have had the audience in hysterics but by then they were already fighting a losing battle for laughs with Linda Linda, an unsuspecting middle-aged lady tempted up to help Stewart and Young with what should have been a straight-forward magic trick but, that thanks to Linda Linda, reduced cast and audience alike to tears.
And talking of Jordan Young, having Buttons go undercover as Dandini allows the River City star to play to his strengths and demonstrate his flexibility. Last of the principals to make his entrance, the audience is well warmed up by his arrival and he quickly takes the laughter up another couple of notches. Whatever you do, don’t miss his Liam Gallagher impression.
Which brings us to Grant Stott, the wicked Baroness Hibernia Fortuna, and her equally evil daughters, Vindicta and Manipulata, played by Clare Gray and Gail Watson. From his first entrance during New Town, a clever reworking of Petula Clark’s Downtown, Stott is in his element and by the time he’s bagged-off with Iain Stuart Robertson’s dotty Baron Hardup, the capital’s best known Hibbee is in full baddie mode, never more so than in the rabble rousing rendition of Yes Sir, You Can Boo Me (yes, Baccara’s hit reworded). Hibernia really is the Queen of baddies.
Gray and Watson, meanwhile, are brilliantly animated side-kicks for Stott and relish every second giving poor Cinders a hard time, a Cinders that in this production gets far more to do than in many, as does her Prince Charming – Amber Sylvia Edwards and Will Callan respectively. Both have incredible voices, great stage presence and chemistry that makes them a warm, endearing couple. That said, Callan has undoubtedly the strongest vocals in the show.
In the pit, musical director Andy Pickering and his four-piece band ensure that the music is loud and tight while Ian Westbrook’s glorious sets and Teresa Nalton’s colourful costume designs make for spectacular viewing but it’s special effects team, The Twins, that supply the most magical moment of the evening. If you’re in the stalls at the end of Act 1, look up.
Reinvention is a huge part of any pantomime, not so much old gags for new as old gags renewed, and writers Harry Michaels and Stewart have the perfect mix this year with nods to the past and present littered throughout – Strictly Come Dancing, Traitors, Gladiators are all referenced while a dance off routine pays homage to King’s pantos long gone with a few nice wee Scottish touches.
There really in something for everyone is this dazzling production, which may at times be a bit naughty but is always nice and quite magnificent.
Cinderella runs at the Festival Theatre until 31 December. Tickets here.
