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Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
@Maxximum23Clark
10:21 PM 16th January 2018
arts

Cinderella, Birmingham Hippodrome

 
The Birmingham panto is one of the biggest in the country so it is not surprising to see soul singer Beverley Knight make her pantomime debut.

The Wolverhampton born singer who has a successful solo career is also known for her leading role in the stage production of The Bodyguard in the West End.

She is the first to appear on stage in this colourful panto as the Fairy Godmother. Danny Mac from Strictly Come Dancing is also due to appear in Sunset Boulevard soon, but as Prince Charming he gets to show off his dancing skills many times throughout the show.

Former Hear Say singer Suzanne Shaw played a convincing Cinderella, whilst it looked at times like a lot of the budget had gone on the costumes for the two ugly sisters, Voluptua (Ceri Dupree) and Verruca (David Dale): they must have got changed over 8 or 9 times, with each outfit looking grander than the last.

Yorkshire duo The Grumblweeds, now with James Brandon taking the role of the straight man, whilst Robin Colville swapping over to the funny man role, played the tax collectors. They managed to incorporate part of their usual routine into the panto, but full marks to Beverley Knight being a good sport for duetting with Brandon, whilst the other Grumbleweed proceeded to mess around with the sound coming out of their microphones!

Gary Watson played a very camp version of Dandini, but really the main star of the show is comedian Matt Slack, he is like Birmingham's answer to Yorkshire's Billy Pearce. Quick witted, funny and able to do life like impressions, he had the audience in the palm of his hand as soon as he walked on stage playing Buttons.

Making his fifth successive appearance in the Birmingham panto they have already announced he will be appearing in the panto next year.

With the carriage and horses coming out into the audience as Cinderella went to the ball the scene had the younger members of the audience enthralled.

To end on a high Beverley Knight even sings the Whitney Houston hit, I Wanna Dance With Somebody.

A first class production from a first class cast.

Runs until 28 January 2018
www.birminghamhippodrome.com
Telephone 0844 3385000