Birmingham Hippodrome until March 1st then touring
**** “Lavish style and energy”
The feeling of festivity and warm glows are still in evidence at The Hippodrome thanks to the BRB’s timely revival of David Bintley’s Cinderella. A production that drips with lavishness and style. The story is familiar of course, and regularly captivates in the winter season through many different genres. Top of the table must be the Bintley version backed by Prokofiev’s dark and sweeping score and John Macfarlane’s stunning design.
Yu Kurihara grabbed the titular role with a pleasing energy, technically sharp and with a lovely sense of underplay and naivety that beautifully blossomed by the third act. The counter to the underplay came from the jocular ugly sisters, played for all they worth with acute timing by Olivia Chang Clarke and Eilis Small. Kurihara plays around their tomfoolery with a deft touch and together they a hugely watchable trio.
The Ball is full of grandeur, and hope and some short-lived joy for Cinders, alas time ticked on and her need to dash home became urgent. The quick exit though did mean a certain slipper is left bereft on the palace steps.
The charming third act slips quickly from energetic and failed shoe fittings to the glorious transformation of Cinderella; she has the right foot for the shoe and can jump from there to being hand in hand with her Prince at last.
A sumptuous feast, grab a ticket for the ball if you can.
Reviewed by David Robinson
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