Cinderella, Birmingham Hippodrome - review with pictures
If you spot a fairy tale coach winging its way across the skies over the West Midlands during the next few weeks, you can be sure that it’s heading to the Birmingham Hippodrome, which is hosting the most magical pantomime of all - Cinderella, until January 28.
The city centre venue is known for doing it bigger and better than anywhere else and this year is no exception, as Qdos Entertainment deliver on every level - providing stunning scenery, stars and glitter lighting effects galore, outstandingly sumptuous costumes and the best special effects in the business - to ensure the Hippodrome maintains its place at the very top of the panto Christmas tree.
With a stellar cast which includes the multi-talented soul diva, radio presenter, musical theatre actress and now one third of the newly formed trio, Leading Ladies, Wolverhampton born and bred, Beverley Knight (is there no end to this wonderful woman’s achievements?); Prince of the Strictly ballroom, the charismatic Danny Mac and of course Birmingham’s favourite panto comedian, the incomparable Matt Slack, who returns to the city for the fifth year running due to unprecedented demand.
It’s two and half hours of laugh out loud comedy, fun and frolics. The staging and choreography are second to none and the cues and direction perfectly on point.
The adult humour does tip the balance very slightly but is never offensive, while the traditional silliness and cringe worthy jokes for which panto is so well-loved reign supreme.
This is Beverley’s first voyage into pantoland and she certainly is a “Fabulous Fairy” completely stealing the limelight from the off, as her famous golden tones ring out as she flies high above the audience on a giant butterfly to open the show. And that’s just for starters.
Retaining her wonderful Wolverhampton accent throughout, Fairy Godmother Bev takes everything in her stride, including the ad-libs and mischief making of panto royalty, The Grumbleweeds, whose well worn but classic comedy she more than matches, holding her own while they create mayhem all around.
The beautiful and talented Suzanne Shaw is the perfect Cinders, with a surprisingly good singing voice, while there is a distinct Strictly theme to the storyline as Prince Charming, in this case, Danny Mac, Samba’s his way from scene to scene, giving the excellent ensemble of dance professionals a run for their money and making the ladies in audience swoon.
Ceri Dupree and David Dale are suitably hideous as the Ugly Sisters, Voluptua and Verruca, complete with sharp as a knife witty retorts and the most incredible set of costumes I think I have ever seen in panto! Their frocks are worth the price of a ticket alone!
But, the evening really does belong to the hilarious and lovable Matt Slack as Buttons, who simply raises the roof with his own very special brand of physical comedy and wise-cracks, not to mention superb interaction with the youngsters, while keeping the mums and dads laughing out loud too, confirming exactly why he has been invited back again for the 2018/2019 season and is set to appear as Mr Smee in Peter Pan. I can’t wait!
And on the subject of youngsters, picture the scene; four children on stage singing the community song with Matt and...Oh no actually I am not going to spoil it for you, you need to go and see for yourselves!
Let’s just say that what happens next is one of the most shocking but side-splitting pranks I have ever seen on stage which left me really questioning whether I should have laughed or disapproved. However, with almost two thousand other people in hysterics, how could I not join in?
Then, not content with making me laugh until my mascara ran down my face (not a pretty sight!), just as I was thinking that I needed to hear Bev sing just once more, she raised the roof in the finale with a stunning version of Whitney Huston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody, with the whole theatre on its feet! There are no words!
Suffice to say that Producer/Director, Michael Harrison, who I understand is highly selective and only directs the London Palladium panto and Birmingham, has created an unmissable panto masterpiece here, proving that this age-old traditional form of theatre moves seamlessly with the times and will continue to entertain and thrill families for years and years to come.
So, for show-stopping, stunning entertainment this Christmas time, call 0844 338 5000 or visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com for tickets.
You shall go to the ball!
Beverley Knight tweeted from the show:
