Myra Dubois

Cinderella

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Reviewed by Jodie Crawford

Opening Night verdict ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It’s my favourite time of year, that time of year when we gather together and head into Manchester to be entertained at the annual Opera House Panto. Oh yes it is!

This year we are treated to the age old tale of Cinderella. It has all the traditional ingredients needed to tell the story. From a wicked step mother, a Prince Charming, two step sisters, a Fairy Godmother and our old mate Buttons. 

But as we have now come to expect, from a Manchester Opera House Panto, this show has so much more to give than an old school Panto. This is Manchester. We do things differently here, and Panto is no exception.

Everything about this show is slick. Crossroads Pantomimes deliver a well carved and crafted show with a glitzy set and dazzling costumes. The effects team have gone to town this year, and the scene with Cinderella’s carriage is one of the most magical moments I have ever seen in Panto (and I have seen A LOT of pantos).

I am not sure I am ever going to be ready for a world of Manchester Panto where Nickless (Buttons, this year) and Manford aren’t on stage together. This duo is a match made in Panto heaven. You can see the bond that these two men have with each other both in character and out. They work together elegantly on stage – there is no other Mancunian duo that could capture the audience like these two do.  And boy do we love it! Who knew it was possible to cry tears of laughter while singing Sweet Caroline on a Tuesday night in town! 

Make no mistake, Manford is an all round performer, he’s so much more than just a comedian (which he also does very well obviously) he has become a seasoned Panto pro. He has a rich and deep voice and while his dancing still gives off full on dad dancing vibes, (which is part of the charm) he is enormously entertaining throughout the entire production. But he isn’t alone. Nickless, his right hand man, shines brightly in his role as Buttons. He is a first class panto star. It’s like he was born for it. The gags keep coming, his comic timing is genius, and he clearly loves what he is doing and that makes us, the audience, love him even more. And his James Blunt impression is more James Blunt than James Blunt could do himself. If laughter is the best medicine than Nickless is a healer! 

The whole cast of Cinderella is exquisite, they come together so perfectly to create a night of magical Christmas memories.   

There were stand out performances from Liz Carney and Chloe Chesworth, as the wicked step sisters. Manford and Nickless might need to watch their backs with these two storming onto the Opera House panto scene. I thoroughly enjoyed this comedic duo throughout the show.  

And Panto wouldn’t be panto without a villain for us all to hate (love) and Myra DuBois delivers: the costumes, the gags, the bullying of the bloke who wished he hadn’t sat front centre in the audience, the boos and hisses- all came together perfectly! The dame is an integral part of a Panto, but it takes a special Dame to do what DuBois does – and makes it look so effortless. 

Cinderella is absolutely top notch, a must see, be prepared to laugh your socks off and leave wanting more. 

Cinderella is on at Manchester’s Opera House until Sunday 5th January (with best availability in January) tickets available here.

Jack and the Beanstalk

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Reviewed by Jodie Crawford

Opening Night verdict ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is Manchester, we do things differently round here – and Panto is no exception.

This year Crossroads pantomimes give us “Jack and the Beanstalk” in this version we follow the plight of Jack (Jason Manford) and Simon (Ben Nickless) as they try to rescue Princess Jill (Emma Williams) from the clutches of Myra Blunderbore (Myra Dubois) and her husband, the Giant.

They are helped along the way by The Spirit of the Beans (Samara Casteallo) who brings a little bit of magic, charm, and sparkle to their journey.

Crossroads pantomimes know that they have a recipe for success pairing Jason Manford and Ben Nicklless once more. These two are a match made in heaven and we love it. We can only hope they’ll return in 2024 – because let’s face it they’ve moulded Manchester Panto into what it now is and it just wouldn’t be the same without them.

This show is good for the soul. It’s got all the ingredients of a traditional panto: a wonderful charismatic dame, a talented ensemble, the classic gags and panto routines, sequins, dance sequences and audience participation. But this production has so much more. It’s a feast for the senses, from pyrotechnics to huge moving beanstalks, flying cars and some of the best comedy routines I’ve ever seen. Not to mention the giant himself.

What this panto also shows us is that you don’t need a token popstar to wheel out for the big numbers, because this cast is outstanding in the vocals department. Each can hold their own, in their own right. I know Manford has done much singing professionally, but I really think he gets better each year. Emma Williams is also an excellent vocalist along with the magnificent Myra Dubois.

Dubois is everything you want her to be as the Dame: brash, bold, quick witted, and a comic too. She is uber glamorous and we really weren’t sure whether we should be booing her or cheering her because deep down we are all just a little bit in love with her.

Ok, so the plot gets lost quite a bit, but who cares. Manford and Nickless command the audience, they have us in stitches from start to finish, so whether the cast have suddenly rescued the princess and the animals without much character exploration really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.

There is something for everyone in this panto, and it is an absolute must see. So, get down to the Opera House and have yourself a good giggle this Christmas, as well as a rave to old Macdonald – you won’t regret it!

Jack and the Beanstalk is on at Manchester’s Opera House until Sunday 31st December, tickets available here.