Magical ‘Cinderella’ panto has an unashamedly Cork slant

Do you believe in magic?

That was the question posed by Peggy Twomey (played by Fionula Linehan) at the Everyman panto, Cinderella, on Saturday night. And it’s fair to say that even the biggest cynics might just say that they do after seeing the show.

This year’s panto gives an unashamedly Cork slant to the classic tale of Cinderella. There were on-screen cameos from the Lord Mayor Fergal Dennehy; Cork ‘The Traitors’ star, Christine Duff; and PJ Coogan to name a few. The audience was transported to Penneys on Patrick St (and learned Cinderella herself is a ‘Penneys Girl’), we stood below Mangan’s Clock... we even met The Echo/Holly Bough boys.

In the Everyman’s version, Cinderella (played by Leah Barniville) lives with her step-father ‘The Baron’ (played by Michael Sands), and sisters Chloe and Zowie (played by Róisín Lane and Lily Carey Murphy respectively). ‘The Baron’ is looking for one of his daughters to marry Prince Charming to secure his future after losing out in the recent election. Sands, who played the Wolf in Red Riding Hood at the Everyman panto last year, yet again made the perfect villain while Chloe and Zowie expertly delivered a modern interpretation of the evil stepsisters which had the audience squirming.

It is clear Cinderella doesn’t have it easy. But with a little help from her friends Peggy and Buttons (played by Andrew Lane), and just a little bit of magic from her fairy godmother (Méadbh Tierney), Cinderella meets her Prince Charming (played by Zach O’Brien).

Leah makes for a wonderful Cinderella and seems to effortlessly bring the audience along with her on her magical journey whole Fionula brings a certain sparkle to the show as panto dame.

Zach brings the traditional Prince Charming from the fairytale we all remember to life, and Andrew and prince’s right hand mad, Dandini (Graham McDermott-Wood), help ensure plenty of laughs during the around two-hour show.

For me, the vocals really stood out in this year’s panto with Leah and Méadbh Tierney raising the roof with their glorious delivery of Wicked’s Defying Gravity. I was shocked to learn that Méadbh is just 16.

There were plenty of familiar songs throughout the show and there were several squeals of delight from some of the younger audience members when the cast belted out Golden and Soda Pop from KPoP Demon Hunters.

The costumes and staging deserve special mention. Both young and old alike gasped in disbelief when Cinderella’s rags were transformed into a glittering ballgown right before our eyes. Was it clever lighting and timing, or was it magic? You’ll have to decide for yourself.

Cinderella presented in association with Cada Performing Arts, is directed by Catherine Mahon Buckley.

Tickets are priced at €38.50, with special offer nights at €30, and the relaxed performance at €25. Tickets for a family of four are €140. See https://everymancork.com/events/the-everyman-panto-cinderella/