Once upon a time there was an age-old story, known to children and adults alike.
Then Elaine C Smith and a host of panto favourites got hold of it and turned it into a festive spectacular.
Cinderella opened at Aberdeen’s His Majesty’s Theatre on November 30 and has been pulling in audiences old and young since.
The show opens with a big musical number, a fantastic stage backdrop and some plush costumes.
Buttons – everyone’s favourite fool Jordan Young – is first to say hello to all the boys and girls, mums and dads in the audience, and sets the tone for a show that’s impossible to avoid getting involved in.
Everyone knows the tale of Cinders, the poor slave girl who is worked to the bone by her evil stepmother – in this case portrayed by Barbara Rafferty, who everyone enjoyed booing and hissing – and her ugly sisters.
The siblings, Morag and Nessie, were this season’s panto dames, played expertly by Iain Stuart Robertson and Alan McHugh. Their extravagant costumes – my particular favourites being when they dressed like their pet dogs – and their one-liners, were hilarious.
Cinderella, the adorable Gillian Parkhouse, of course falls for Prince Charming, played by the north-east’s own Ross William Wild, but all manner of troubles befall them until Cinders’s fairy godmother helps out – step in Elaine C Smith.
Forget all the glitz, glamour and outlandish outfits, she steals the show. The highlight of the evening for me was her uncanny impression of Adele. Other stand-out moments include the rip-roaring references to the north-east – including the fairy’s magical journey from the mystical, sprite-filled land of New Pitsligo.
There are some real breathtaking moments in this year’s festive offering, with the closing scene of the first half one of the sure show-stoppers for the younger audience.
Instead of a golden carriage, Cinderella is whisked off to the ball in a glittering contraption pulled by a flying horse, which really does take off.
As with every panto, the main characters really do live happily ever after and the baddies get their just desserts, but not before the onlooking crowd gets the chance to take part in a good old sing-song. I’ve been to many a panto, as a young quine and a slightly older one and this is most definitely among the most fun I’ve seen.