Cinderella

Mayflower, Southampton

TRULY sumptuous is the only way to describe this lavish, hilarious and decidedly entrancing panto.

Cinderella, which runs at Mayflower until January 4, was so full of magical moments it’s hard to know where to start.

From the moment Gok Wan floated on in his glittery moon the show just kept delivering.

Highlights for me were perhaps topped by the real horse who obliged with tricks so sweetly it had the audience spellbound. Then there was the glittering flying carriage that transported Cinderella to the ball – even a fairly non-girly girl like me couldn’t fail to be enchanted, and our little boys aged four and six sat open-mouthed as it floated above the stage.

This is the last leg of my panto season and it couldn’t have ended on a higher note – the laughs kept coming thanks to Brian Conley’s amazing physical theatre and Gok’s surprisingly good comic timing.

For someone more used to presenting a fashion show Gok did well and the pair seemed to have such fun together I’d be surprised if this was the last panto for the double act.

The costumes, particularly those of the fantastic Ugly Sisters, were just out of this world. The pair had a million costume changes and each time they came out they were dressed in something more dramatic than before, even dropping on to the stage as a pair of candelabra for the ball.

This is the third panto this year where the heroine didn’t squeak or flap her hands like a windmill, either! I’m astounded.

Cinderella is a stunning show – don’t miss it.

www.mayflower.org.uk / 02380 711811