James Rushbrooke and Rory Hobson are not just the writer and director of Cinderella at The Questors this year, but also play Rimmel and Maybeline, the Ugly Sisters.
This year’s Ealing panto is set in the 1980s, where Cinderella (aka Cindy) and her dad Bernie run a launderette. The bad guys are one Gloria (mother of the sisters and the laundry’s landlord) and Hans Gruber.
Cindy’s friend Buttons has come from another world in search of his sister Emily; and the vain Prince (not-so charming) Adam is hosting a ball to find himself a bride.
The usual recipe of light smut, lively tunes (opening with Love Shack and ending with all three versions of The Power of Love mashed up), and cute children is present and correct.
I did miss the traditional Dame, although Derek Stoddart does as well without frocks as Bernie as with them on. Julice Liecier and Adam Watt are good as Cindy and Buttons.
Comic relief is in the duo of Bungle (Simon Higginson) and Penfold (choreographer Michelle Spencer at this performance), and a talking chicken.
I enjoyed the colourful set designs (by Juliette Demoulin) and costumes (by Carla Marker) which transported me back to the world of Ghostbusters, Yoda, and Madonna’s pointy bra.
A few panto perennials were retired this time around: no 12 Days of Christmas or audience songsheet. A few callouts worked well, and the Sisters teased the crowd with glee.
Team Cindy were the children at this performance, with dancers, singers, gremlins and the pairing of Milla Emmanuel and Enid Hall as Emily/Gremily.
Adam (Tom Woolley), Gloria (Samantha Boffin), Hans (Stephen Mirre) and Fairy Godmother (a sarcastic Sally Parker) are good secondary characters, popping up as required.
Cinderella is one of the best-known pantomimes, and The Questors have yet again put a unique spin on it, giving Cindy autonomy and even getting one over the squabbling King and Queen (Alex Marker and Chrissie Mills).
This one is a definite umph-pa! Roll on next year!
Cinderella is showing until 31 Dec – tickets here.
Photo credit: Carla Marker