A dazzling and novel take on the original fairy tale is how I’d describe the “Cinderella” pantomime. I went to see it on the 29th of November at the Lyric Theatre, not knowing at all what to expect. Written by Jude Christian, it retells the cherished story of Cinderella for a 21st century audience, complete with modern pop songs, flossing and even a joke about Brexit! Though it was perhaps bound to be inherently juvenile, I found I did overall enjoy the pantomime. The performance was perfectly in line with the ethos of the Lyric Theatre of inclusivity and innovation.

What I admired very greatly about the performance was its original take on the story. Cinderella in this case was a strong, independent young woman with a passion for science shared by Bob, the prince, and this is what ultimately brings them together rather than the quite arbitrary glass slipper. The ugly step-sisters also massively broke the mould, with one of them being redeemed by falling in love with Cinderella’s best friend, Buttons, and the culmination of their relationship in the form of a wonderful wedding was a heart-warming finish.

The humour managed to pull a few laughs out of me, but the performance is ultimately aimed at young children and so perhaps fell short for a teenager here. There was extensive use of slapstick comedy, puns and rhyming, that at times felt obvious and forced and therefore not comical. Although, having said this, some of the more nuanced and subtle jokes, clearly directed to older members of the audience, were certainly successful!

One of the best and most unique parts of the performance were the costumes, especially that of Fairy Fredbare, who wears an expensively vast variety of outfits ranging from that inspired by the London Underground to smart work clothes and ending with the glamorous rainbow dress! The colours and energy on the stage were infectious, and certainly added a feeling of fun to the performance.

The music was mostly parodies of existing songs, including “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen, “Juice” by Lizzo and “I Don’t Care” by Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber. This was certainly entertaining and catchy, although I feel more original music may have enhanced the performance more, and made it more exciting to watch, as it would propel the story forward better, having been written for that purpose. However I did find my feet tapping to the beat of their fast-paced covers more than once! “Cinderella” summed up in three words would be, as Timmika Ramsay, who plays the eponymous heroine, said: “Fresh. Epic. Relatable.” It certainly captivates the modern audience with references to mainstream culture, and is a wholly new take on the story. The audience participation also made me engage with the performance more. However, it was certainly best suited for children, though still enjoyable for teenagers or anyone older. I would mainly recommend to go if you have younger siblings who will assuredly have a great time!

By Kinnary Patankar, Henrietta Barnett School