Opera House, Cork
Glittering costumes and floating, medieval-patterned scenery allied to energetically colourful song and dance routines emphasise the sophisticated approach taken to this Opera House production. The style is typical of director Bryan Flynn, who works with choreographer David O'Connor, music director David Hayes and lighting designer Michael Hurley to present the kind of musical and visual glamour you'd expect from a pantomime.
Enhanced by a good chorus and dance ensemble, this team includes Killian Donnelly as co-scriptwriter with Flynn. But this time the writing partnership fails to deliver the goods. For some reason they omit a wicked stepmother for Cinderella, and the antics of the fantastically frantic Trevor Ryan and Declan Wolfe as the ugly sisters can't quite fill that gap, especially as their exaggerated accents are as weird as their wigs. The uproar contrived by this pair, by the vigilant Michael Joseph as Buttons, Kevin McCormack as Baron Hardup and by Linda Kenny as a Fairy Godmother having problems with her rhyming diction works a treat with the young patrons. Though a few crude jokes are added to the action for the parents' and guardians' sake, Megan Cassidy's Cinderella and Patrick Kelliher's Prince Charming are both as wholesome and tuneful as could be desired. The transformation scene is cleverly accomplished, and the pumpkin coach with its fine white horse soaring into the night sky (rather like Santa's sleigh) is as magical as any small heart could wish.
runs until January 14th
