Panto magic with Danielle Jam as Cinderella with Helen Logan and Julie Coombe as the Eilidh and Mhairi McHardup. Image - Aberdeen Performing Arts.
Magic is real ... and it’s happening every night at Cinderella, the glittering panto at His Majesty’s Theatre.
There can’t be any other explanation for the stunning scene involving Cinder's horse-drawn carriage at the end of the first act than sheer wizardry at play. Okay, it might be technical wizardry, but that didn’t diminish the sense of wonder that swept the audience.
No spoilers, but let’s just say there were a fair few wee ones, wide-eyed and pointing in amazement at what was happening – and a fair few grown-ups too.
But the really enchanting thing about Cinderella was that jaw-dropping carriage ride was only one outstanding moment in a show that had the whole audience spellbound from the rousing opening overture to the standing, cheering, singalong, finale.
Along the way there were plenty of boos and hisses, a plethora of “oh no you won’ts”, song and dance numbers to rival the West End, silly slapstick, dazzling worldplay and gales of laughter for almost the whole two hours.
Panto's top comedy duo, Paul J Corrigan as Buttons and Alan McHugh as Baroness Heifer McHardup. Image - Aberdeen Performing Arts
There was even an abundance of fart jokes, leading to one of the funniest pay-offs of the night, proving Alan McHugh, writer, director and delicious Dame McHardup, has his finger on the pulse of watercooler culture.
See also the regular appearances of the Scottish Cup (not the real one, of course) being carried across the stage, held aloft by a Dons star (also not a real one, of course). It fair got the audience roaring.
Alan, clearly relishing his 21st outing as HMT’s panto dame, knows exactly what makes a panto tick, and his Cinderella was a beautiful thing of clockwork precision, up to and including the bits that “go wrong”.
He was also at the heart of a couple of his signature wordplay set pieces – the ‘fit bits fit for the Fittie first footie team’ was phenomenal.
And his Wonky Donkey sketch with a very wonky donkey indeed had the audience howling.
Dawn Steele as the glittering and magical Faerie Godmother. Image - Aberdeen Performing Arts
This festive treat, though, is an ensemble piece which saw the return of some much-loved HMT panto faces. Paul J Corrigan was, as always, a perfect daft laddie as Buttons and a wonderful comic foil to not just Alan’s dame, but to Cinders, too.
Taking on the title role was Aberdeen’s own Danielle Jam who turned in a feisty Doric-infused Cinderella who wasn’t dreaming of marrying a handsome prince, but getting a job as a professional royal advisor. Welcome to the 21st century, Cinders.
Star headliners for this year were Dawn Steele, of Granite Harbour and Shetland fame, and Joe McFadden, Strictly Come Dancing champion and Holby City stalwart.
Dawn was a glittering and warm Faerie Godmother, working her magic with not just her wand but with some cracking one-liners, too.
Joe McFadden as the very charming Prince and Samuel Murray as a scene-stealing Dandini. Image - Aberdeen Performing Arts
Joe was a very charming Prince Charming – and clearly having a (glitter) ball on the panto stage.
His nifty moves were on show during a grin-inducing dance-off between Prince Charming and his guards and Buttons and Dame McHardup.
At this point, it should be pointed out Cinderella has the hardest-working dance ensemble in Pantoland. It was exhausting – as well as fun – just watching them.
Bringing the boos were Julie Coombe and Helen Logan as the Wicked Stepsisters who turned it up to 11 to get the audience jeering and hissing.
But a special mention must go to Aberdeen’s Samuel Murray who made a stellar impact in his HMT panto debut as Dandini. A consummate physical actor, blessed with great timing and stage presence, you could barely take your eyes off him, even when he was standing (almost) still.
It takes some doing to steal the scene during Joe McFadden’s glittering entrance as Prince Charming, but Samuel almost pulled it off.
Writer, director and Dame for his 21st year at His Majesty's, Alan McHugh. Image - Aberdeen Performing Arts
At the heart of Cinderella is the sheer sense of fun and exuberance that radiates from everyone on the stage.
They look like they are just having a laugh-filled caper, with the audience in on the jokes and shenanigans. But it takes real skill and talent to make it all look so easy, and the entire cast has that in abundance.
If you could distil Christmas magic down to two hours of pure joy and put it on a stage, it would be Cinderella at His Majesty's.
So whatever else you do this festive season, you must go to the ball.
Cinderella runs at His Majesty’s Theatre until January 4. You can find more information and tickets here
Review by Scott Begbie