Sinderella Live

Universal

R4 DVD

This is without a doubt the funniest film I have watched in a long time. Pantomime is a rather stylised form of theatre that dates back to the ancient Greeks. By the 16th century the pantomime had become set in much the form we know today with its standard characters, ritualised plots and occasional slapstick. As well as the play itself the show would often contain song and dance routines. In Britain Pantomime seemed to be put on mostly around Christmas. It became a standard part of childrens’ entertainment at this time.

The standard characters usually include the hero, handsome but not always intelligent and if particularly young often played by a girl; Buttons the servant who keeps the plot moving; the attractive young heroine; the Dame who is usually played by a large man; and for some reason the pantomime horse which is driven by two men in a fakey-looking horse costume.

The plots, such as they are, are based on fairy stories like Cinderella, Goldilocks or Dick Whittington. The plot usually has little relevance to the original story, being adapted so certain standard scenes can be inserted. The audience is expected to participate vigorously, booing the villain or cheering the hero, and even their responses have become somewhat stylised (Oh, no she didn’t ! Oh, yes, she did!”)

This version of the classic Cinderella is definitely not for the kiddies.

Although it follows the pantomime conventions it adds a very adult note to the gags. It has that smutty humour that only the British seem able to do without it being offensive. It is, instead, just very very funny.

“He took me back to his flat and threw me on the bed. Then he whispered those magical words”

“Come on fatso – fart and give us a clue?”

Jim Davidson has taken the tired old pantomime genre and given it a whole new look. Jess Conrad as Prince Charles (sorry, Prince Charming) outcamps Liberace and features genitals that seem to become bigger and more “outstanding” throughout the show. Even the horse is, shall we say, very well equipped. Veteran comedian Charlie Drake, playing Baron Hardon, mumbles his way through the show so effectively that it’s hard to tell if he is actually acting – maybe he really is a very dirty little old man. He also seems to have an alcohol problem and it is hilarious watching him improvise when he forgets his lines. Regardless, his part is one of the best in the show the way he plays it. The ugly sisters, Madonna and Camilla, are of course particularly fat, ugly and vulgar.

“Come with me, Prince Charming, and I’ll give you a 68”

“A 68?”

“Yes, it’s like a 69 but you go down on me and I’ll owe you one.”

The actors ham it up for all they are worth and the audience is with them all the way. It is rare to see such a fusion between actors and crowd in a live show.

The show toured for six months and was translated to videotape. The DVD suffers a little with sound quality sometimes, but this is a very minor problem with what is otherwise a great show.

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This review will appear in Volume 3 No. 3 of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

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