I know it's not the done thing to review before press night, but this is not so much a review as a celebration of a show that pushes all the right panto buttons (no pun intended) and a hearty recommendation to catch it during its five-week run at Cardiff's New Theatre.Cinderella is Lee's third panto and his Prince Charming is joined by:
This fabulous cast work brilliantly together, sharing the stage and the laughs and the huge appreciation of the packed houses they played to on their opening weekend in largely equal measure. All the expected elements are there, both in the content of this most traditional of pantos and its delivery, including a liberal scattering of topical references to its cast members and its location... my personal favourite being perhaps one of the more obscure (though not to my usual readership) when Prince Charming, noticing the Ugly Sisters making a sneaky getaway, channels an earlier Prince (of Egypt), and orders "Guards, seize them!" Loved it!
For Lee, there is distinctly less swash-buckling and rather more clothing than we saw in Robin Hood last year, and though that may sound to some like a retrograde step, we are treated to more singing
, more dancing and a demonstration of his natural comedic timing that had tears of laughter running down my cheeks... Lee's Prince Charming raises his personal panto bar once more, but then that's Lee all over!So, first impressions - sparkly, funny, family-friendly, high-energy, sparkly, loud, naughty, charming, happy-ending and did I say sparkly? And should you see the show? The beaming smiles on faces young and old as the house lights came up say a resounding YES!
To avoid any more spoilers, I shall leave it there and simply share some of the production photos that first appeared in Wales Online on the opening Saturday of the run - see their website for the full Gallery.
First published: 14 December 2014