A Magical Seasonal Treat for All the Family

Posted on 15th December 2023

The Corn Hall has hosted a Christmas pantomime for many years, but this is the first created in house, and it’s a gamble that has paid off handsomely. The ensemble cast and crew may not be exclusively drawn from the area, but there’s a grounded feel to the production that goes beyond name-checking Mere Cottage and having the magical sprites played by local children.

Packed with groan inducing jokes, song and dance numbers, sing-alongs and quite the ugliest of ugly sisters, there’s more than enough in the show to satisfy traditionalists. Tom Girvin and Paul Huntley-Thomas revel in twin dame performances that wouldn’t have been out of place in pantos of yesteryear, while Jonny Hewitt is similarly old school charming as the Prince. However, this is a deceptively sly production, unafraid to take a pop at the cult of celebrity. Prince Charming meets Cinderella on a reality show, and is kept in check by multitasking Megan Sharman’s Dandini.  Aisha McPherson presents an unusually feisty Cinderella (as well as a stunning singing voice) who is never quite under the thumb of her impossibly glamorous mother, Lady Mere. The Lady is played with evident relish and undeniable poise by drag artist Matthew Squance, lending a pleasingly contemporary touch, notwithstanding the cheeky fun drawn from doubling up as Auntie Godmother.  Last, but certainly not least, Rachael Cummins glues everything together with an outstanding performance as Buttonz with a Z. She commands both the stage and the attention of the audience throughout in a role that she was surely born to play.

It all adds up to a winning combination of contrasting talents performing a knowingly silly script from Nick Earnshaw on a simple, yet effective, set from Matt Nunn, while director Katie Thompson ensures that the pace rarely let’s up in a show fuelled by self-awareness and infectious good humour.