The timeless love story relives on the Richmond Theatre stage in this year’s pantomime, starring Helen George and Charlie Stemp. Guillermo Nazara shares his views to let us know if this latest adaptation, directed by Gary Wilmot, is going to the ball.
I came from East London, like Jacky The Ripper,
To witness the story of a girl and her slipper,
Her two mean stepsisters and their epic fail,
In the heart of fair Richmond, where we set our tale
We all know the plot, so no need to explain,
You've read of and seen her again and again,
She's sweet and she's caring, and desperate for love,
And wants a career, too — 'cause that wasn't enough
Not much has been changed besides a few tweaks
It's still the same journey — same valleys and peaks
Her father's a fox, though, with great charm and sass,
Who only likes Dad jokes of the highest class
Her best friend's called Buttons — an enchanting guy
Who's in love but won't say it, for he's rather shy
There's also a fairy at the magical helm,
Who's travelled from Poplar, her faraway realm
The script is enticing, delightful, and droll
'Twas aiming for fun and it sure reached its goal
The structure is sound, the pacing is smooth
'Though rushed at some points, to tell you the truth
The staging's outstanding — so detailed and grand
No scene looks unpolished, unfinished, or bland,
The costumes are gorgeous, unlike the stepsisters,
For, despite their attempts, they will both die as spinsters
The song list is rousing — it can't bring you down
You'll love what they've done to Petula's 'Downtown'
The score is arresting, the arrangements are swell,
Shout-out to the orchestra — they all play so well!
The cast is a triumph, their performances soar
And brim with rapport, from the leads to the corps
Jak Allen's portrayal is top of the game
As the wicked stepsister and her horrendous name
The mentions continue with Cinders's dad,
Whom Basil Brush plays, and he isn't half-bad
All praise must be given to Charlie Stemp's act,
Who's darling as Buttons, and that is a fact!
If you wish for an evening of family joy
Then coming down here shall be your ploy
There's magic, and humour, and even bel canto,
For nothing compares to the Richmond Panto
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Cinderella plays at the Richmond Theatre until 4 January. Tickets are available on the following link.