The pantomime at the Georgian Theatre Royal has charm. The charm of a great and continuing tradition and the charm of faithful playing.

Skilled actors tell the story of Cinderella much as it would have been told when the theatre had its first lease of life. Yet this Cinderella is no museum piece. It is funny and vibrant and has topical references. There are some lovely plot twists. Dandini is really a gal and she fancies the Prince. After the ball Cinderella runs away to sea.

All of the actors create pleasureably fresh characters. The wonderful Ugly sisters, Terry Ashe and Arnie Breen, seem taken from a Hogarth print. Aidan O'Neill is an immediate hit as Buttons, giving tremendous comic pleasure. Melody Fielding's northern Fairy Godmother, first glimpsed cleaning her windows, is the Fairy Godmother we all want.

On the tiny stage the masked ball is sweetly executed. The transformation scene is a piece of simple theatrical magic. Indeed everything about Cinderella is magical and joyfully theatrical. it is a pantomime unsullied by half-measures.

If this reviewer could choose a pantomime to wrap up and take home, this would be the one.

The Stage

" The best pantomime I have seen in my entire life" Kevin Berry (The Stage)