REVIEW: Cinderella on the New Victoria Theatre, Woking

The Fairy Godmother of all pantomimes is again on the New Victoria Theatre Woking for the festive season, and it’s a true Christmas deal with for the entire household. It’s the well-known rags-to-riches, magical pumpkin, glass slipper story set in Woking and filled with panto magic.

Brian Conley is that this manufacturing’s star car as Buttons, and producers Crossroads actually get their cash’s price from him! Conley should carry out 6 songs within the present, from full numbers to comedy ditties, including the anticipated comedic flare to the numbers. His timing and wit, as evidenced during the last forty years, is totally sensible. Whether interacting with the viewers or performing comedy magic, Conley had us within the palm of his hand from the second he entered the stage.

No pantomime can be full and not using a good villain, and the Cinderella story spoils us with two equally menacing baddies; the Ugly Stepsisters. Ben Stock performs Tess, with Neal Wright as Claudia, and it’s a match made in heaven (or possibly hell)! Stock and Wright bounce off one another and are synchronised to a tee. This is, little question, helped by the truth that Wright can be this manufacturing’s Resident Director. Match this glorious duo with a plethora of outrageous costumes from the thoughts of Mike Coltman, and Woking panto has a profitable system.

Jane McMurtrie’s choreography utilises a really proficient ensemble, and by no means treads on the toes of the wonderful vocal work from Musical Supervisor Gary Hind and Musical Director David Lane, which I’ve seen all too many occasions in pantomimes. Kathryn Rooney brings her award-winning course to the New Victoria Theatre this yr and has created an creative and slick present, which rattles by the laughs and retains up the tempo all through. I did discover, nonetheless, that the script lacked a story drive all through a number of the present. This could have been misplaced at the price of laughs and improvisation, however the story tends to leap from key second to key second and not using a outlined through-line. There’s even a Woking’s Got Talent part which places an enormous pause within the motion.

All in all, Woking Panto has every part you might ever want; catchy songs, dazzling costumes, loads of laughs, and a surprising solid. I left the theatre smiling from ear to ear, aching from laughter, and filled with Christmas cheer!

Review by Max Topliss