Cinderella

Published Thursday 13 December 2007 at 11:30 by Jane Coyle

You know what they say - if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. Enthusiastic, sell-out audiences clearly testify to the fact that the Grand Opera House pantomime formula is far from broken, but there is a case to be made for some refreshment and re-energising. As usual, the whole thing looks wonderful and this year’s climactic special effect is the graceful arrival of an enchanted flying unicorn, which speeds Shinead Byrne’s Cinderella away to the ball.

The script contains a mixture of jokey references to Neighbours and local people and places, with a sprinkling of raunchy gags for the grown-ups, delivered with relish by Jay Worthy and Mark Dugdale’s Ab Fab-inspired gruesome twosome.

Dame May McFettridge as the Fairy Godmother is at her funniest when poking relentless fun at the audience. And it takes the efforts of three Northern Ireland lads - Mark Adamson as the Prince, Patrick Harvey of Neighbours fame as Dandini and Aidan O’Neill as an irrepressibly amiable Buttons - to light the touch paper under the familiar tale and up the pace and pulse of proceedings. They are all fully deserving of a big bag of chocolate buttons apiece for their cheerful, polished performances.