Scottish pantomime round-up: Cinderella (Portobello Town Hall, Edinburgh), Cinderella (Reconnect Regal Theatre, Bathgate) and Sleeping Beauty (Howden Park Centre, Livingston)

One of pantomime’s great joys is its familiarity – we already know the ending and the plot points that will get us there. So full marks to Reconnect Theatre’s Pete Sneddon, who finds much innovation in directing both a new Cinderella (★★★★) at the Reconnect Regal, Bathgate and a retread of his existing Sleeping Beauty (★★★) at Howden Park Centre, Livingston.

In Sleeping Beauty, Paula Ness’ shallow Aurora is woken half way through Act II – after much ethical debate – not by the kiss of Ross Jamieson’s Prince Robert, but by his rendition of the song Kiss by Prince. It is a clever take in a show that uses the rules of pantomime to drive the plot. Owen Redmond’s Narrator insists that the characters follow what is written in his book, calling on assistance from Catriona Lamb’s fine Muddles. A box given over to the audience’s care holds the secret of the dungeon of Carabosse (a wonderfully cackling Marianne Kelly).

Writers Sam Fraser and Reece McInroy take things a step further at the Reconnect Regal, where the story of Cinderella is completely subverted. Amy Lawrence’s superbly rhyming Fairy is so intent on earning her wings that she is sure Cinders should marry Lewis Carlyon’s narcissist Prince Charmless; Amy Brennan-Clark’s pragmatic Cinderella just sees him as an escape from servitude. Luckily, Bronagh Docherty’s as her pal Buttons declares his secret love before Cinders tries on the slipper – leaving the fairy to magically resize it so that it fits not one, but both Uglies, and the path clear for Cinders to marry Buttons and the Uglies to win Charmless.

Both productions are thoroughly successful, even if Cinderella needs a tweak: it is a little too loud for the very young, and arguably a touch too dark, thanks to Reece McInroy and Sam Fraser’s magnificently evil ugly sisters (their opening entrance is a masterly tribute to Doctor Who’s Weeping Angels, with clever lighting and sound from Josh Brown). In Sleeping Beauty, Elliot McLean’s Dame Betty Bakewell needs a few more costumes.

Meanwhile, new company Stage Door Entertainment present Cinderella (★★) at the newly refurbished Portobello Town Hall. Young director Lewis C Baird knows how to load in local references, but this show demands more jokes, better patter and a cast who are allowed to relax into their roles. Still, Laurie Scott’s Buttons stands out, Andrew Gardiner has the makings of a great dame as Fairy Maggie and the McNeill Brothers Harrison and Leo are the ugliest Uglies around.

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