Christmas is rapidly approaching which can only mean one thing at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn; Evolution Productions are back and with a pantomime that’s more hilarious than ever.
Given their past successes, there’s certainly a lot to live up to but Cinderella most definitely delivers.
The laughs come through thick and fast and there’s something to amuse everyone from witty one liners and puns, to local jokes and topical references to politics and reality TV. It’s no surprise that there was rarely a moment where the auditorium was not filled with uproarious laughter or infectious chanting and cheering.
Brad Fitt is back and playing Buttons, a role that may be a departure from his usual pantomime dame but is still hysterically funny as ever.
Victoria McCabe takes on the title role, whilst Ryan Bennett is her Prince Charming; both are immensely likeable in the roles and give spirited, enthusiastic performances. They are joined by Eric Smith, Joanne Heywood, and Phil Butler, who all raise plenty of laughs in their respective roles of Baron Hard-Up, Fairy Godmother, and Dandini.
Ian Smith and Matt Daines are also hilarious as Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters, Eugenie and Beatrice, and had fantastically fun interactions with the audience.
No pantomime would be complete without musical numbers and the show has several energetic and slick performances of popular songs which are sure to satisfy the tastes of theatregoers of all ages. The staging too, is worthy of praise, particularly Cinderella’s incredible flying horse and carriage which wowed the audience and brought the superb first act to a magical close.
Cinderella is hugely entertaining and quite possibly the most fun there is to be had in the theatre. With 60 shows to go, there are plenty of chances to catch a performance of this unmissable production, but as the theatre’s most successful and highest grossing pantomime to date, it may be better to book tickets sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.
Review by: Jenna Feasey