OK so Christmas may be a distant memory, but a trip to the panto is fast becoming an Easter tradition too. This weekend we were invited to review Cinderella at The Theatre Royal in St Helens and would definitely recommend it to other families looking for an outing over the school holidays.
The theatre generally put on an excellent panto (and we've seen quite a few of them) but this one was the best we'd seen in a while. It's always a good sign when a show ends and you think "is that it finished already?" - and then look at your watch and realise you've been there for over 2 hours.
All the cast - from the stars to the youngest dancers - did a great job. But star of the show for me was Lewis Devine as a very cheeky Buttons whose highly energetic performance had the audience laughing along.
The role of Prince Charming was filled by former Steps band member Lee Latchford-Evans who showed that he could act as well as sing. And let's face it, what's not to love about a show that finishes with a Steps medley to get the audience dancing along?
Resident dame Si Foster was back as an Ugly Sister with his sidekick Mark Newall making up the other half of the pair, with both putting in a great performance.
With a few pyrotechnics thrown in, a fantastic coach pulled by Shetland ponies, lots of laughs and a few traditional panto gags, this is a great way for people of all ages to spend a couple of hours.
The show is running from Sunday 24th March right through to Sunday 15th April and at £56 for a family ticket comes in a lot better value than many of the nearby big city theatres.
The Theatre Royal is easily accessible with plenty of free or cheap parking nearby and reasonably priced refreshments available. It is a lovely old theatre, not too big so you don't feel too far from the action wherever you sit and friendly, helpful staff.
Well worth a visit!
