Theatre Review: Cinderella, New Wimbledon Theatre

This panto is the real deal: scorchingly good, pure class from curtain up to glitzy finale.

There is so much talent on show with something to please everyone. Sets and costumes are picture book sumptuous, the fairytale has a few great novelty items which add to the traditional fun and the choice of songs is a sure-fire hit.

The adorable Joanna Page (from Gavin and Stacey) makes a warm yet feisty Cinders and because she is so Welsh the versatile Alistair McGowan adopts a Welsh accent as her dad Baron Hardup.

Of course he throws in plenty of vocal impressions too and turns in an adept, cane-twirling Razzle Dazzle for the walkdown.

Gareth Gates had female hearts fluttering in the audience as a truly handsome Prince Charming with smashing voice and he shows off one of the skills he learnt in Dancing on Ice to give his Cinderella a couple of stylish shoulder lifts.

As if all that wasn't enough, world class American ventriloquist Ronn Lucas is a Buttons with a twist – a pet teenage dragon called Scorch.

The puppet looks so alive and Lucas's artistry is incredible: you never see his lips so much as quiver. He brings on another puppet for the ballroom scene and instead of the songsheet he gives us a comedy routine using a volunteer from the audience which is hilarious.

I also liked the broken-down car sequence which features Buttons, the Baron and Ugly Sisters (Andrew Ryan and Graham Hoadly) as they try to fix the wheels back on.

This is the best pantomime I've seen for a while: see it too and I promise you'll have a ball!

Diana Eccleston

5 stars