Surrey

Saw Cinderella tonight, loved it, not a fan of strictly but Anton was brill, been a panto fan for 60 years and the ugly sisters take some beating! Fairy was a shout for the mature lady, we are a family aged from 3 &#8211; 65, and all 10 of us loved it! Well done, a memorable panto for all the right reasons, a privileged break from reality. Thankyou

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Darren-Bennet-Anton-Du-Beke-and-Bobby-DelaneyCinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_6406.jpg" alt="Anton Du Beke as Buttons in Cinderella at Richmond Theatre." class="wp-image-36871" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Darren-Bennet-Anton-Du-Beke-and-Bobby-DelaneyCinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_6406.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Darren-Bennet-Anton-Du-Beke-and-Bobby-DelaneyCinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_6406-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Darren-Bennet-Anton-Du-Beke-and-Bobby-DelaneyCinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_6406-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Darren-Bennet-Anton-Du-Beke-and-Bobby-DelaneyCinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_6406-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Darren-Bennet-Anton-Du-Beke-and-Bobby-DelaneyCinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_6406-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Darren-Bennet-Anton-Du-Beke-and-Bobby-DelaneyCinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_6406-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>All photography by Craig Sudgen</figcaption></figure>



It claims to be the Fairy godmother of all pantos, and this year Richmond Theatre has embraced the pantomime in all its theatrical glory.



There is spectacle as well as silliness, sparkles and song, jest and jokes. Oh, and as you&#8217;d expect from a panto that stars Strictly pro dancer-turned-judge Anton du Beke &#8211; there&#8217;s plenty of shimmy and sway.



After the disruption of Covid – references to which the writers wisely minimise – Cinderella is an entertaining escape. And this year, they’ve amped up the LOLs and sprinkled the show in more glitter than a Strictly final. 



Anton made his panto debut, stepping into the role of Buttons, the lovelorn best friend of Cinders. It may have been his first ever panto, but Anton is no stranger to the stage, and certainly not to the limelight. And while his nerves were evident in the first few minutes, it didn&#8217;t take long for him to relax into the role.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Edward-Chitticks-and-Oonagh-Cox-in-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_06449.jpg" alt="Oonagh Cox as Cinderella and Edward Chitticks as Prince Charming in Cinderella panto at Richmond Theatre." class="wp-image-36874" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Edward-Chitticks-and-Oonagh-Cox-in-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_06449.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Edward-Chitticks-and-Oonagh-Cox-in-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_06449-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Edward-Chitticks-and-Oonagh-Cox-in-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_06449-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Edward-Chitticks-and-Oonagh-Cox-in-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_06449-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Edward-Chitticks-and-Oonagh-Cox-in-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_06449-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Edward-Chitticks-and-Oonagh-Cox-in-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_06449-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Oonagh Cox was charming, graceful and very pretty as Cinderella &#8211; and has one helluva set of lungs on her. She&#8217;s joined by Edward Chitticks as Prince Charming and Jonny Weston as Dandini. 



But the biggest laughs come from the deliciously cruel Ugly Sisters, Beatrice (Darren Bennett) and Eugenie (Bobby Delaney). Decked out in a series of wonderfully ostentatious and ridiculous costumes the pair are an utter delight.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Darren-Bennett-and-Bobby-Delaney-in-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_5688.jpg" alt="Cinderella at Richmond Theatre" class="wp-image-36872" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Darren-Bennett-and-Bobby-Delaney-in-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_5688.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Darren-Bennett-and-Bobby-Delaney-in-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_5688-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Darren-Bennett-and-Bobby-Delaney-in-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_5688-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Darren-Bennett-and-Bobby-Delaney-in-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_5688-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Darren-Bennett-and-Bobby-Delaney-in-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_5688-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/L-R-Darren-Bennett-and-Bobby-Delaney-in-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_5688-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



It’s a lavish production, there’s a beautiful sparkly carriage drawn by two sweet real-live little Shetland ponies, fabulous costumes and a glittery set. Special mention to the ensemble who danced up a storm, including a fab set with a debonair Anton dressed in top hat and tails.



Any criticisms? Well, having already seen one panto this season &#8211; some of the jokes were a tad less funny the second time around &#8211; especially the Covid fart / cough jokes. (Although admittedly, the kids went crazy for any joke that involved the f-word and there was more than one!)



Other than that, the whole thing rollicked along rather beautifully. Best of all it avoided the usual dilemma of one half being much stronger than the second, perhaps because it was shorter than I remember most pantos – I was cosied up in the theatre bar by 10am sipping a Prosecco &#8211; just the way I like it!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/Edward-Chitticks-and-the-Cast-of-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_6213.jpg" alt="Cinderella panto at Richmond Theatre" class="wp-image-36868" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/Edward-Chitticks-and-the-Cast-of-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_6213.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/Edward-Chitticks-and-the-Cast-of-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_6213-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/Edward-Chitticks-and-the-Cast-of-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_6213-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/Edward-Chitticks-and-the-Cast-of-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_6213-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/Edward-Chitticks-and-the-Cast-of-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_6213-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/12/Edward-Chitticks-and-the-Cast-of-Cinderella-at-Richmond-Theatre-c-Craig-Sugden_6213-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Good for: Adults and children of all ages. Fans of Strictly, and anyone looking for some camp escapism.



Not for: If silly humour is not your thing, perhaps best to stay at home.



Cinderella is at Richmond Theatre until Sun 2 Jan. <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/cinderella/richmond-theatre/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAqbyNBhC2ARIsALDwAsBdC2hZg_6m-VOvcYcLvZvftbRDnuDAckyHJHr2oRKqTfLwuvXCV-IaAghlEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">atgtickets.com</a>



Can&#8217;t get enough of panto? Check out <a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/christmas/panto-review-snow-white-at-new-victoria-theatre-woking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (opens in a new tab)">Snow White and the Seven Dwarves</a> at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking.

Panto review: Cinderella at Richmond Theatre

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