Summary

Rating: ★★★★

Running Dates: Sunday 4th December - Saturday 31st December 

Where to see it: Bristol Hippodrome 

Duration: 2 hrs 10 minutes (including interval)

Keywords: Hilarious, Wholesome, Magical 

REVIEW 

A classic Pantomime performance embodying everything you would expect - humour, cheese, good vs evil and a very happy ending! 

The Panto features some big names, such as Craig Revel Horwood and Andy Ford, and they certainly live up to their fame! Craig Revel Horwood is a perfect fit for his character; he brings his own flair to the infamous antagonist, paying homage to his Strictly fame and catch phrases. We also see him held accountable for his notable brutal critique!

Andy Ford brought nothing but joy to the stage! He was funnier than I could have imagined with a brilliant mix of physical comedy for the kids and jokes for adult-ears. His passion for Panto, but also for Bristol, shined bright throughout.  

Act One opens with narration from the Fairy Godmother, introducing us to the story and our characters. We are taken through the classic twists and turns of the Cinderella story, intertwined with modern jokes and references and some foot-tapping tunes. The first Act comes to a close with Cinders heading to the Ball; this closing scene is technical and complex, without giving anything away, this is a definite must-see moment.

Act Two brings the ‘glass slipper’ moment to life and we see the fight between Good and Evil in action. As Cinderella is a renowned and well-loved story, the Happily Ever After moment is inevitable, yet, you can never this magical portrayal too many times. The set design in the second Act is intricate yet profound, matched by the costumes worn by our main cast and the ensemble. 

Overall, the performance was wonderful! All of the cast brought something unique to their roles, their vocals were matched only by their dancing, and the chemistry between all characters (Good and Evil alike) was evident. Of course, the Ensemble also demonstrated endless talent! Their passion and hard work is shown through their costume changes alone! 

This Panto has something for everyone! The auditorium was filled with equal parts children and adults, all of whom were on their feet at one point or another. This particular performance also featured audio-description subtitles which made it accessible too. You won’t be surprised to know that this Panto is brought to the stage by the world’s biggest Pantomime producer. Crossroads Pantomimes have pulled it out of the bag yet again!

The show is running until the 31st of December so there is still plenty of time to grab your ticket!

Standout Quote or Moment: The intense dance routine between our four comedy characters

See If: You notice all of the references to Strictly Come Dancing

Similar Plays: Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Last Impression: Fun for all of the family, shared love for our City and community, with a lasting Christmassy feel!

Written by Chelsea Peel
Photography by Stephen Lewis

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