Cinderella

The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton

review by Ben Bentley

Who’d have thought it – the Krankies are massively popular again. Oh yes they are!

Danielle York as Cinders and Janette Krankie as Buttons

Back for an all-star panto run of Cinderella at Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre and playing Baron Hardup and Buttons, the comedy double act’s resurrection is nothing short of a fairytale.

Then again, their childish messing about and adolescent jokes are simply the perfect ingredients for pantomime, and this production of the Christmas favourite is truly magical, hitting the perfect balance between tickling the kids’ funny bones while at the same time playing to the adults – kind of like the Simpsons, only with Ian Krankie as Homer and Jimmy Krankie as Bart.

We all know the Cinderella story – it’s how we get to what we know that sets a panto apart. And this version of the family classic does it with some style.

Fabulous outfits, spellbinding sets and magic befitting of the wand of any fairy godmother who dishes out wishes and makes them come true.

Neighbours star Stefan Dennis plays the ghastly Dandini who tries to scupper the prince’s plans to wed Cinders, while X Factor star Niki Evans shows her true talent as the Fairy Godmother.

Add into the mix fun, frolics, a flying horse and, fresh from his TV commercial, Churchill the dog, and we have a Christmas panto with bells on.

But really it’s the Krankies who make this a family show to behold. At one point, wee Jimmy Krankie tries to gatecrash the ball by dressing up as Britain’s Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle, complete with hairy eyebrows, and the result is truly hilarious. We even get to see Sue-Bo naked.

As they say in Krankyland: this panto is fandabidozi- oh yes it is!

Cinderella runs until January 31. Call 01902 429212 or visit www.grandtheatre.co.uk