Cinderella

Published Thursday 28 December 2006 at 12:45 by Kevin Berry

Jodie Reynolds’ playing of the Fairy Godmother gives this pantomime the best possible start. She is so full of glee and what follows must surely be exceptional entertainment. Surely?

Such a pity that both Cinderella and Prince Charming are so dull. Such a pity that the writer forgot one of the fundamentals of pantomime - that the audience want to laugh. People want to sit there and giggle and titter and shriek and laugh themselves to distraction. Not much chance of that here.

Lee Malcolmson, as Buttons, struggles gamely with his material. The Ugly Sisters plod wearily on. A version of The 12 Days of Christmas with comic props is at least over and done with quickly. Some interesting routines from the young dancers save the show as a spectacle.

Ruthie Stephens as Dandini does exceedingly well. She invigorates her every scene and cannot help but put Prince Charming in the shade.

The Fairy Godmother returns and the pantomime bursts into life, albeit briefly. She is deliciously loopy, enthusiastic and eager. She is from another pantomime. The pantomime that this one should have been.