Is traditional pantomime a thing of the past? It’s a question I’ve been forced to ponder several times in recent years – and even more so having sat through (and enjoyed) this year’s Hippodrome offering. Yes, it is called Cinderella; it does feature all the usual characters and it does end with the expected ‘Happy Ever After’ scenario. But the storyline is virtually incidental to the overall Variety Show that’s on offer. Dangerous Brian | | Cinderella cast |
In Brian Conley, Birmingham is blessed once again in playing host to one of the true all-round entertainers this country can boast. Indeed without his immense stage presence and talents, I fear this particular Cinderella would have remained entertaining but largely unmemorable. It was, however, rescued by Dangerous Brian in his many guises. Not that there’s any great surprise in that. This, after all, is his fourth panto appearance at the Hippodrome, and I’m sure it won’t be his last. Cinderella is, in truth, merely a vehicle for the Brian Conley show – and hurrah for that! His cheeky smile lights up Christmas in the Second City and audiences young and not so young love him for it. For no one works an audience like Mr Conley whether it’s his cheesy grin; double-speed talk, comic timing, melodic singing or his side-splitting chats with those lucky youngsters plucked from the audience. He’s got it all – and in buckets-full! Ultimate ring-master | | Cinderella |
And after two successive – and successful – years of Joe Pasquale headlining, it needed another big family favourite to maintain the Hippodrome’s long held claim to be the unrivalled capital of pantomime. And in Brian Conley they’ve got the ultimate ring-master. In contrast the rest of this year’s cast merely tick the “adequate” box. CinderellaMichelle Potter makes a perfectly naïve, demure and pretty Cinderella, with a sweet voice and an equally strong personality, while Sean Needham is well cast as her Prince Charming. But what a shame we are confined to enjoying his powerful and emotional singing voice only once. Jody Crosier, as Dandini, is a suitable foil. Fairy GodmotherMy biggest problem, though, is with Shobna Gulati as the Fairy Godmother. She certainly looks the part, sings well enough, but tends to fulfil her role as though acting by numbers. It’s all so very stilted and her attempts at corny – and not very funny – puns, generally fall on deaf ears. Stick to “Where The Heart Is” (or return to “Coronation Street”) Shobna! And then there’s the Ugly Sisters – Trinny and Susannah – played by Peter Robbins and Nigel Ellacott, masters (or should that be mistresses?) of the art for 25 years. Their outlandish costumes (all designed by Nigel) get more outrageous by each change – of which there are many – but somehow they are never quite ugly enough or cruel enough to Cinders to make you really despise them. Indeed it wasn’t until the Second Act that the audience actually started jeering them; a case of too little, too late. Completing the line-up is Dawson Chance (accompanied by his menagerie of animal puppets) as Baron Hardup. Definitely one to keep the children happy and entertained but given little scope to develop his part to the full. Birmingham Stage SchoolOnce again the children of Birmingham Stage School deserve full marks for their whole-hearted performance in the ensemble, while adding to the local feel, former Birmingham Conservatoire student Robert Willis returns to the Hippodrome Orchestra pit to lead a strong six-piece band. The Hippodrome is justifiably proud of its claim to be the home of the UK’s biggest and best panto, but for once I was left wondering just why this year’s Festive Fun didn’t quite match up to the billing. The costumes are colourful and the music is both loud and varied – ranging from Robbie Williams’ “Let Me Entertain You” to Judy Garland’s classic “Somewhere over the Rainbow” but the sets, so often the masterpiece of the pantomime – are routine and uninspired. And as for the usual topical gags and references – where are they? Funny?It seems that the trick of the modern day panto is to try and work in as many references to popular TV programmes as possible. But try as you do, “Deal or No Deal” and “I’m a Celebrity – Get me out of Here” are hardly rib-tickling statements! Pantomime is aimed at introducing youngsters to live theatre, and providing adults with fun and laughter from faces they generally only see on the TV screen – but why sacrifice the tried and trusted storylines for the sake of a few cheap, and unfunny, plugs for TV shows? The audience, for their part, loved it, so to that end it goes down as a success, but I couldn’t help thinking what an even bigger success it could be if all the cast members were allowed to interact as a group rather than perform individual talent spots. And with that thought in mind, just how much this show relied heavily on the tried and trusted – namely one Brian Conley. Ready for Aladdin?Tickets are already on sale for next year’s pantomime – Aladdin – meantime Cinderella continues at the Hippodrome until 28th January. | 
