The ugly stepsisters had us all laughing out loud

THURSDAY, DEC. 8: This year’s pantomime came complete with a stage set of Front Street, two hilariously awful stepsisters and jokes that will last for days.

Cinderella opens tonight at City Hall Theatre. 

I wasn’t sure what to expect as I have never been to a panto in all my 26 years, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised.

So, we all know the story, Cinderella (Katie Witowski) must tend to the fires at her home while her ugly stepsisters boss her around. She meets her fairy godmother and goes to the Prince’s royal ball... but she must leave before midnight.

Now take the traditional tale and add in bags of fun for the kids and tons of political humour for the adults and you get this year’s panto.

It starts with a group of people sitting on Front Street gossiping like stereotypical Bermudians with exaggerated accents.  The set, created by Cleo Peppit, was colourful and sparkly with a life-sized birdcage.

Baron Hardup is the father of Cinderella who is “skint” because his two stepdaughters spend all his money. The ugly stepsisters are Aphis (Phillip Jones) and Millie or Millipede (Kelvin Hastings-Smith) who give Cinderella her cruel nickname.

Buttons (Dion Ming) is Cinderella’s best friend and servant to the house.

Then there is Prince Charming (Matthew Wedlich), his right hand man Dandini (Nathaniel Sussman) and the Fairy Godmother (Emma Muggleton).

The ugly stepsisters definitely stole the show with their jokes that had me literally laughing out loud.

The costumes alone were hilarious, ridiculous and completely over-the-top.

In one scene they tell Cinderella: “You are an important cog in the wheel”, no doubt a reference to then Deputy Premier Paula Cox’s comments last year.

Finally, they break “Cinders” down and she begins to cry. One of the sisters says: “We don’t want to be around a heap of crying cinders, that’s like being in a Bermudians Against the Draft meeting.”

But the jokes didn’t stop with the sisters.

During one scene with the Prince and Dandini, Dandini says he needs a good foundation.

The Prince tells him to call Zane DeSilva but Dandini says: “He’s too busy with the Planning Minister.”

While many of these jokes went over the children’s heads, the adults in the audience could not stop laughing, myself included.

But the best joke of the night was of course from Millie and Aphis.

While they are at the Prince’s ball, Cinderella dressed as Princess Crystal disappears at midnight.

This upsets the Prince and he tells everyone to leave.

Aphis says: “I hate it when the party ends.”

Millie replies: “Just like the UBP.”

Overall, the play has a happy ever after ending, just like any fairytale.

The good always win.

While I thoroughly enjoyed myself, I would say it was a bit too long, starting at 7:30pm and ending at 10pm. My three-year-old wasn’t impressed with the late ending.

However, Jenny Burrell did an amazing job directing her first panto — Cinderella is a must-see for children and adults alike.

Cinderella continues at City Hall until December 17.