Cinderella at Lichfield Garrick

Right from the very start, we were warned about the two men wearing dresses! How bad could it be we thought? Whatever we were thinking we were not expecting the sheer variety of hilariously hideous costumes. Nor were we expecting them to be quite so magnificent. From apparel that looked like it had been taken straight off a cow’s back, to hats shaped like immense boxes of French fries and bowls of ice cream with a flake to finish it off, the two men wearing dresses are surely the most hilarious act this Christmas, well certainly in Lichfield anyway.

Lichfield Garrick’s Christmas pantomime has become a family favourite in recent years. We know that we are always assured of a top class performance, the classic panto gags, a family friendly experience (with a bit of adult humour designed to go over the kids’ heads) and a cosy place to watch it all going on.

This year’s offering was the classic Cinderella story. Cinders herself lives with her father, Baron Hardup, in the aptly named Hardup Hall. When her two step-sisters come to visit, Cinderella’s initial excitement quickly turns to despondency. This was much like poor Neil, an unsuspecting audience member from row 3 seat 2 who joined in the fun, as the shout of “aren’t we marvellous!” announced the arrival of the gruesome twosome.

Meanwhile, over at the palace, the Prince is feeling equally despondent at his failure to find love. When he hatches a plan with his concierge to swap roles for the day the result is a chance meeting with the beautiful Cinderella at a market in the woods. Far from this being a Disney-type ‘maiden rescued by posh bloke’ story we are reminded that Cinderella is a modern independent woman who is more interested in ‘who’ the Prince is, rather than ‘what’ he is. The result, a happy ending (well - for everyone but the lovelorn Buttons).

This is a great way to spend a few hours with the kids (or, to be perfectly honest, without them!). We just love a bit of Christmas panto but without the levels of innuendo offered in some venues. Did Lichfield Garrick measure up this year? ‘Oh yes it did!’

Special thanks to Lichfield Garrick for inviting us along to review the show.

The show runs until 5^th January 2020. More details and booking at:

https://www.lichfieldgarrick.com/whats-on/all-shows/cinderella/2430

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