Richard De Vere as Dandini. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Tina Malone, Leanne Campbell, James Waud, Charlie Griffiths, Richard De Vere, Marc Lawlor, Simon Foster, Nick Cochrane, Schnorbitz.

The village of Stoneybroke and its love deprived prince are in need of good fortune and a princess to bring love to its desolate and poor people. They certainly don’t come any poorer than Baroness Hardup and her daughter.  It may be a fairytale but for those that go along to the St. Helens Theatre Royal to catch one of the classics of the panto season, the tremendous Cinderella, it will be impossible not to feel touched and elated at the grand piece of theatre on offer.

With a cast that would be a boon to any regional theatre, Cinderella’s plight is a fast moving, delicate and genuinely comical, with some great songs sung by the players and a panto villain to be proud of.

Richard De Vere is such a strong panto villain that he is impossible not to secretly cheer as you openly boo and hiss at his conniving ways. As he tries to out-do the prince and the lovely Cinderella, played by the equally lovely Leanne Campbell, the twinkle in his eyes as he is given the run around by all on stage, including the superb dancers is nothing short of excellent to watch.

With Coronation Street’s Nick Cochrane making a splendid lovelorn Buttons, the brilliant Simon Foster and Mark Lawlor making disturbingly fantastic Ugly Sisters, James Waud as the enigmatic prince, the wonderful Tina Malone and the charming and enchanting Charlie Griffiths stealing some of the great lines in terrific panto style. This is certainly a show that will appeal to all the family.

The entire cast played up to the children and parents incredibly well, an inspired couple of hours of delightful silliness and to witness so many beaming faces laughing and enjoying the superb production was enough to fill the heart of even the stoniest Christmas grump.

Cinderella at the St. Helens Theatre Royal makes for a splendid Christmas panto that is worth its weight in gold!

Ian D. Hall