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Michael Cox reviews a production that's 'a blast from start to finish'.
It’s the annual Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Andy Gray Christmas bonanza!
If the above sentence fills you with joy and/or excitement, I’m happy to report that you are in for a treat—this year’s panto sees our trio at their cheeky best with quick-fire jokes and a relentless pace told with impressive set pieces and props. And unlike the last few years, the titular story actually manages to play out, though in truth it is mostly a subplot to the Stewart, Stott, Gray shenanigans.
Not that this is a bad thing.
But those coming to see the story of Cinderella might be surprised at how little stage time our heroine gets. It’s kind of a shame, because this year’s cast are rather good. Gillian Parkhouse is an absolute delight as Cinderella, and James Darch is a Prince Charming easy to root for. Andrew Keay has some nice moments as Charming’s right-hand Dandini while Clare Gray and Maureen Carr have fun chewing the scenery and wearing horrid frocks as the wretched stepsisters Ruth and Nicola.
But who are we kidding? The main attraction to the Edinburgh King’s are Stewart, Stott and Gray, who play the roles of Fairy May, Baroness Hibernia Hardup and Buttons perfectly fine within the actual story.
What they excel at playing, unsurprisingly, is each other; it is the banter between these three that serves as the show’s main attraction. Perhaps some of the routines run a bit too long and a few of the jokes are recycled, but the energy the three share with each other is infectious.
It might not be one for the history books, but this Cinderella is a blast from start to finish, and it’s next to impossible to argue with that.
Cinderella performs at the King’s in Edinburgh until January 21st.
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