REVIEW OF CINDERELLA BY LYNN CARROLL

December 17, 2025

If any of you remember last year’s review of Jack and the Beanstalk you will know that I am a relatively recent convert to the joy of pantomime. You may also remember that I could not praise the show enough and, you will not be surprised, I cannot praise this latest festive feast for the senses highly enough.

Who doesn’t love the story of Cinderella, a rags to riches story of a love match between the badly treated maid and her handsome prince. Die hard feminists would probably scowl at the tale but my philosophy is to leave history alone and this is the history of fairy tales where good overcomes evil, the hero and heroine live happily ever after and all is well in the enchanted kingdom. By all means update and retell but let’s not pretend these stories were never told.

From the opening song and dance routine to the final words of Rylan after the curtain call it was a couple of hours of joyous escapism from the problems of life and the world in general. I didn’t think Rylan could better his previous year’s performance but he totally smashed it and the audience made sure he knew it. The laughter, cheers and comebacks came thick and fast with joke after joke, some missed by yours truly as they fired across the auditorium with the rapidity of a machine gun.

It was a pleasure to see Ross King take to the stage as Buttons, another talent in his repertoire as I only previously knew him as a Hollywood entertainment and gossip presenter on daytime television. A couple of missteps only added to the hilarity, but who knows, were they missteps or deliberate ad libs playing to the audience?

I especially loved the tongue twister scene played between Rylan and Steve Hewlett with Ross King darting between the two and relaying what the other had said. Mr. Hewlett is an amazing ventriloquist and without giving anything away let’s just say he did a fantastic job with an audience participant.

The costumes were fantastic with many changes throughout the show, familiar songs with many lyric changes to include Southend and surrounding areas. My only disappointment was that we were not sprayed with water or accosted by 3D creepy crawlies as in last year’s show, but what the heck, it made no difference to the panto as a whole.

Having recently watched a new Christmas film about an American actor tricked into taking part in a small town pantomime, I was aware of this uniquely British custom seeming bizarre to those mostly unaware of its existence and charm. All I can say to those unfamiliar with the concept is; ‘you don’t know what you’re missing’.

So don’t miss this production if you can possibly help it, you will be glad you got to enjoy this endearing typically British custom.