Theatre / Reviews
Cinderella, Bristol Hippodrome – ‘Craig Revel Horwood brings the fab-u-lous in this retelling of the classic pantomime’
As Andy Williams would have us believe, Christmas is a time for parties, carols and mistletoe. However, to us Brits there is another age-old tradition that makes the most wonderful time of the year truly memorable. Pantomime.
Beloved by children and adults alike, panto in its truest form represents the very best of British eccentricity. Deprecation, innuendo and crossdressing madness are what it’s all about and this latest production at Bristol Hippodrome is no different. The story of Cinderella is tried and tested, and the show doesn’t stray too far away from its roots.
Andy Ford as Buttons has the audience in the palm of his hand, with his quick-witted west country quips and well-timed slapstick that has the whole audience chuckling. The Bristol references come thick and fast, with Ford arriving on stage atop an electric scooter, keen to make a satirical comment on Voi etiquette. In fact, the whole cast seems eager to weave local sentiment into the dialogue. For the most part, this works a treat, though sometimes feels thrown in for the sake of a cheap laugh. But that’s ok! It’s panto.
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Craig Revel Horwood as the Wicked Stepmother
Alison Jiear sparkles as the Fairy Godmother, arriving onstage with a bang and puff of smoke. Singing with grace and glamour in her solo numbers, there is a sense of magic in the air whenever she is onstage, as it should be with such a whimsical character.
She also has great chemistry with Lauren Hampton as the titular character, whose sweet innocence and determination provides a great contrast to the antagonists. Speaking of which, special praise should go to Leanne Jones and Catherine Morris for their hilariously chaotic portrayal of the stepsisters Claudia and Tess.
Their rapport with Buttons, Prince Charming and Dandini leads to some of the funniest moments in the show, one of which involves a catchy song and a particularly absorbing piece of luggage. Oliver Savile soars as Prince Charming with a show of real talent in his vocal delivery. He struts like a prince with strength and confidence, not to mention his gleaming attire.
Lauren Hampton as Cinderella with ensemble dancers
Daniel Norford is just as strong as the servant Dandini, however he perhaps isn’t given the stage-time he deserves, and too often feels like a secondary character, which is a shame. The whole cast really give it their all in this show, so too the ensemble, whose dancing and elaborate costumes electrifies those big numbers.
As expected though, Craig Revel Horwood truly steals the show as the Baroness Hardup, a character he was seemingly born to play. His singing is strong, his dancing top notch, and his overall attitude has just the right air of indifference. He often looks like he’d rather be anywhere else, which only adds to his deva aesthetic. Oh, and if you didn’t know that he was on Strictly come Dancing before the show, you will do by the end.
Unsurprisingly for a production at The Bristol Hippodrome – and particularly the ever-popular panto – the technical elements are all exceptional. I loved the set, which transforms like the opening of a story book. Hand-drawn illustrations of castles and candles, combined with Alex Marshall’s inventive lighting design fill the space with an appropriate sense of wonder.
Ensemble cast
And the costumes, created by Mike Coltman and Teresa Nalton are also stunning, with vibrant colours and sequinned glitz adding to the magic. One particularly jaw-dropping set piece delivered at the end of the first act was enough to make me giddy. No spoilers here, but it was certainly a highlight of the show.
I genuinely have no criticism for Cinderella. One could argue that some of the material goes on too long or that some jokes don’t land but these are minor points. Anyway, it’s the very essence of pantomime to take these risks, given that it’s in a theatre class all of its own.
From the audience singalongs to the classic tropes of “oh no it isn’t!” and “she’s behind you”, panto has always been the people’s show, and this production puts Bristol first. In the not so common words of Revel Horwood, I give it a 10.
Andy Ford as Buttons
Cinderella is at Bristol Hippodrome until December 31; showtimes vary. Tickets are available from www.atgtickets.com.
All photos: Stephen Lewis
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