There has been a big hole in Liverpool’s panto calendar for the past two years while the stage of the Epstein Theatre has been dark, so it is an absolute joy to be able to be back reporting on a festive show in what is, for many, the ‘People’s Theatre’ in the city.
Regal Entertainments (based just up the East Lancs in St Helens) have refreshed and restaged their Cinderella for the Epstein with a cast that boasts stars of radio and the small screen alongside some seasoned panto regulars.
The Cinderella story is a popular choice for panto, as it lends itself well to the format. Whilst Shakespeare North Playhouse have modernised the story for their telling this year, Regal stick firmly with tradition. Here the departure of Cinders on her pumpkin coach is the cue for the interval, leaving the grand ball and the search for a foot to fit the crystal slipper for Act II. The idea of a rags-to-riches story involving a beleaguered village girl marrying a handsome prince might not be as much in vogue as it was once upon a time (and one of the children called up onstage in the golden ticket sequence made it clear she wasn’t impressed by such a marriage!) but it is undeniably the makings of a good fairytale.
The story also contains all the archetypes needed for a panto, and with a pair of ugly sisters in the mix we get two dames for the price of one.
Leanne Campbell makes a great fairy Godmother, belting out some fine tunes as well as engaging in some well judged banter with the audience. Kevin Duala is in fine voice in his solo vocal spots and, although he is an unconventional casting choice for the role, he makes a good fist of it and hurls himself with gusto into the many energetic routines.
Michael Nelson is a real find for the Prince, with strong stage presence and a fine singing voice, whilst Coronation Street’s Katie McGlynn certainly looks the part for Cinderella and gives a feisty reading of it.
The runaway stars of the show, however, are Shania Pain and Brenda La Beau as the ugly sisters and Conor Barrie as Dandini. Pain and Barrie are reprising the roles from last Easter’s outing at St Helens, and La Beau steps in opposite Pain with a perfect fit that she could only wish for the slipper. The sisters carry off the acidic double act with alacrity, bringing perfect timing to their dialogue-juggling scenes and, whilst the costumes throughout the production are spectacular, this pair get the cream of the crop in a wardrobe to die for.
As if to almost rival the Sisters, Barrie camps up his role outrageously, and by the time we reach the second act he is expending enough energy to power a small town. He just might be priceless.
The first act takes its time to gain momentum, with fewer sung numbers than might normally be expected, leaving the excellent ensemble from Dance Dynamix to do a lot of the work in keeping the action flowing in the first half. Meanwhile, setting up the transformation scene for Cinderella and her coach and ponies could use a little tightening (and a bit more stage smoke perhaps to complete the magic), but by the time we reach the interval things are rattling along at a pace, and by our arrival at the ball the momentum is unstoppable until we reach the conclusion of the story proper.
By the way - the manufacture of water pistols has come a long way since I was a child, and there is easy access for the performers right into the Epstein’s auditorium, so resistance is futile when the water blasters make an appearance. I am rating this officially the wettest panto in the region, so either wear head to toe waterproof clothing or just brazen it out – you’ll dry out before it’s time to go home! It’s also best not to fret over some of the more pointed innuendo… much of it will fly over the heads of the children, and for those who do get the jokes then it’s probably too late to worry about it.
Cinderella marks a sparkling and wickedly fun return to Panto for the Epstein, and Regal Entertainments as always deliver a piece that is steeped in tradition and made with a lot of fun, and industrial quantities of glitter and sequins.
The show plays at the Epstein until 4th January with numerous two and three-show days, and performance times ranging from 9:30am to 6pm and tickets starting from £20 are available here.
For those planning transport, shows run at approximately 2hrs and 10min duration including one interval.
Star Rating 4 stars
Production photographs by David Munn
Conor Barrie, Michael Nelson and Ensemble 
Shania Pain, Katie McGlynn and Breanda La Beau
This review was originally written for publication by Good News Liverpool
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