I went to see the Cinderella pantomime in Liverpool at the Empire theatre the other day (Saturday, Christmas eve). Benjamin, who we went for, was asleep for the start, and wasn't too impressed by it, but he was a good boy and didn't cry or want to leave, so we'll call that a success.
The panto itself had Julian Clary as a 'new' character 'Dandini' the prince's aide / valet / best man/ something or other. Cue camp jokes, "But you're ring is so expensive", something about snowballs, etc, etc. Oh and some camp classic entrances, charriot drawn by 2 kinky leatherbound slaves, arriving on a huge glittering high healed shoe, and more of the like.
There were a number of other actors obviously, but nobody well known unless you watch "Born and Bred" (?) or the new Basil Brush show.
There was some less that perfect singing from the prince, wooden acting moments from clary and a fairly reasonable performance from cinders herself. The ugly sisters were good, a well made part well played up by a pair of dames playing very scouse chav-ettes. There was no sign of a wicked stepmother though (?) but cinders' dad did a good job.
And then there is buttons, well played that man ! A lot of time for him on the stage, so he had to carry the play, something I assumed that clary would be doing given the huge pictures of him on the play bill.
All in all a couple of hours well spent, but Clary should check his acting skills a little vs his ego, but then I guess that's his attraction.
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