For decades Manchester Opera House has thrilled audiences with its hotly anticipated annual pantomime. This year is no different as they stage an all new production of the panto classic Cinderella. From sweets hurled into the audience to cheeky water gun antics, and plenty of opportunities for audience participation, Cinderella delivered everything the audience wanted and more.
Returning to the stage this year were Manchester’s beloved Panto double act, Jason Manford and Ben Nickless. Manford brought warmth to his role as Prince Charming, with plenty of dad jokes which went down a storm. Nickless kept the energy high with his more playful childlike humour and hilarious impressions. It was however the incomparable Myra Dubois who stole the show, as the villainous Baroness Myra Fortuna. Her sharp wit and razor-tongue had the audience in hysterics with her cutting ad libs.
The humour catered wonderfully to all generations, with a mix of slapstick comedy for children and cheekily topical jokes for the adults. References to current events when Buttons was learning how to flirt had the adults in absolute stitches. With pantomines it is often the unscripted moments that are the most fun, and the audience couldn't have agreed more when Wendy Mae Brown broke her magic wand as the fairy godmother. Some of the longer stand up segments however, while funny, disrupt the flow of the show. These extended moments resulted in the narrative feeling a little rushed at points.
Song choices were a fun balance between modern theatre hits and familiar crowd-pleasers, ensuring all audience members could enjoy the music. Fans of musicals were treated to numbers from ‘The Prom’, while the inclusion of timeless classics like ‘Sweet Caroline’ had the whole theatre singing along. Of course, the vocals were superb throughout, with Jason Manford and Sarah Vaughan in particular wowing the crowd.
From Cinderella’s ballgown appearing before your eyes, to the magical horse and carriage flying into the audience at the end of the first act, the show is a visual treat. It really has everything you want from a pantomime, making it a magical night for the whole family. Cinderella plays at Manchester Opera House until Sunday 5 January 2025, with best availability for January.
Note: My ticket was gifted. Irrespective of whether a ticket is gifted or bought, I always ensure that my reviews are fair and based on my honest opinion alone.