It’s very easy to become cynical when Edinburgh dons her gaudy festive gear earlier and earlier in the year, but one step into the warm welcoming atmosphere of the Festival Theatre at panto time, full of swirling lights and music, scatters that feeling like a handful of fairy dust.
This year’s production is Cinderella starring the cheeky, no holds barred gallus trio of Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young in their respective time-honoured roles of dame (Faerie May), villain (Baroness Hibernia Fortuna) and clown (Buttons).
Perrault’s original tale is put through the pantoland mangle to accommodate their tropes one of which for this beloved show is the long running convention of Edinburgh becoming Auchtereekie. In a glittering spectacle that includes long term favourites, such as clever parodies of popular songs; tongue twisters; 4th wall smashing and audience involvement, have the audience on board from the get-go.
The creators have performed the trick of keeping enough tradition to give comforting familiarity but not enough to make it a boring format and the result is that it pleases adult and children alike in spades. It is utterly and unashamedly Scottish not just with language – nae cringe factor – but with nods to the late great Jimmy Shand’s signature tune The Bluebell Polka and with Jordan’s comically covering his nipples with his fingers that is an esoteric wink to the legendary Glasgow comedian of yesteryear, Lex McLean.
Coatbridge-born Amber Sylvia Edwards returns to Scotland to make her pantomime debut with her delightful version of Cinderella with a bit of a twist – no spoilers – and none either for this year’s jaw dropping flying object created again by The Twins FX.
The superbly talented Gail Watson returns to these boards after over 20 years as Manipulata Fortuna, one of the outrageous sisters. Gail performed with Grant and Jordan at this year’s Edinburgh Festival in Chemo Savvy, a play inspired by the late Andy Gray whose daughter Clare Gray returns for her sixth Edinburgh pantomime as the other sister, Vindicta Fortuna.
Credit is more that due to the costume department, headed up by Mike Coltman Speciality Costume Design, particularly for the creation that transforms Cinderella’s dress from a Tyrolean treat to a swirling ball gown before our eyes, defying belief. Along with an astonishing talking teddy, the feat creates real impressive magic beyond the Cooperesque ones of card tricks.
Will Callan, who has sung in les Misérables, completes the cast as Prince Charming along with acting veteran Iain Stuart Robertson as Cinderella’s Dad, Baron Hardup and of course there are the unsung heroes that are the dancing ensemble and the orchestra.
While the script seems thinner on controversy than in the past, it is none the worse for that this year with the whole experience generating enough fireworks, fun and laughter to crack the toughest of Scroogy shells. Tidy!
Cinderella is produced by the world’s biggest pantomime producer, Crossroads Pantomimes.
At Festival Theatre Edinburgh till 31st December 2024
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 