Drury Lane’s Cinderella is a holiday treat

There is a lot to like about this Christmas pantomime. From zany slapstick to on-point choreography, this community showcase is fun for the whole family.

A holiday tradition across the world, Cinderella pantomime shows have a lengthy tradition going back centuries. Featuring outlandish costumes and slapstick comedy while playing up audience participation, panto may be rooted in the commedia dell’arte (Italian comedy) but they’ve become a staple of the holiday season almost everywhere.

None of this knowledge is needed, to enjoy Drury Lane’s latest production. Like every holiday panto, the story of Cinderella broadly follows that of the fairytale but with a lot of twists thrown in to keep the audience on their toes. Cinderella is still a long-suffering daughter to her tyrant stepmother and awful stepsisters. She still has a fairy godmother who sends her to the royal ball with her glass slippers. And she still meets Prince Charming, who must then find her after midnight to slip the shoe on her foot so they may live happily ever after. 

The cast uniformly give fun and energetic performances. Young performers Ailah Leclerc and Caitlin Tolley are both great as Cinderella and Prince Charming, respectively, leaning into their roles as lovestruck teens in a hijinks-filled fairytale. Also enjoyable are the two performers taking on roles unique to the panto. First is royal servant Dandini (Rob Mines) who swaps robes with the prince to wear the crown in a case of mistaken identity, which pays off later on. The other is Cinderella’s forlorn confidant Buttons (Caroline Clark) who also breaks the fourth wall to act as a surrogate to the audience (a character who mirrors the audience's ignorance), especially the kids.

Of course, no panto is complete without over-the-top bad guys, and here, Drury Lane’s production is a home run. The aforementioned stepmother, the Baroness, is played with hilarious aplomb by Claire Campbell. Posturing like a queen, she gleefully hits back at the booing audience both young and old. But Beryl and Cheryl, the ugly stepsisters, played in hilarious gender-swap by Michael Belton and Al Skinner, steal every scene they’re in. From ill-conceived efforts to gussy themselves for the ball, to tricking their way into the Prince’s graces, both Belton and Skinner hilariously send-up the pair of siblings.

One of the best parts of this show is the audience participation. This is especially the case for the children of the audience who have their own seating area right down front. On opening night, the hijinks between the children and the villains was in hilarious form and, honestly, funnier than the show itself. That said, Clark deserves a lot of credit for her spirited performance as Buttons and her warm connection with the kids in the crowd. She has a natural affinity with the young audience and, when she leads a singalong at the show’s end, it’s no surprise that she gets the whole house on their feet.

“There’s nothing more powerful and joyful than hearing a room full of children and adults laughing, cheering, singing and booing the villain,” says director and choreographer Eleanor Belton. Her work on this production is also the key to the other big selling point: Drury Lane’s partnership with the Aspects of Dance. It’s a natural fit as Belton is also the artistic director of the Burlington-based dance studio.

The studio has partnered with Drury Lane for several holiday season pantomimes including Aladdin in 2023 and Beauty and the Beast in 2024. It’s a collaboration that works in the show’s favour. Spread across the broad comedy and songs of the show are numerous dance numbers involving the students from the Aspects studio. They offer not just standout moments to see young, talented dancers hone their craft but also a refreshing tonal break from some of the more outlandish onstage antics. 

Undoubtedly, one of the things that’s most appealing about being in the audience of Drury Lane’s latest production is the sense that you're part of a family event. Whether they’re acting as part of the cast, or working backstage as production crew, or performing in the dance chorus, it’s clear that whole generations of the community are sharing the spotlight together.

Now in its 50th year, Drury Lane consistently impacts thousands of artists, musicians, and volunteers across the region. It all makes this holiday production feel less like watching a theatre show and more like being invited into a community for a big celebration. With so much hard work and love being poured into this show, it deserves a raucous audience to join in the fun.

When endless streaming options and constant screen time compete for attention, families deserve a festive outing that can genuinely delight parents and children alike. Drury Lane’s Cinderella Christmas Pantomime delivers exactly that and more. Though it continues this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you’ll need to hurry if you want to catch it, as opening night sold out nearly two weeks in advance.

NEED TO KNOW

Cinderella, Christmas Pantomime
Continues Dec. 19, 7 p.m., Dec. 20, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dec 21 7 p.m.
Drury Lane Theatrical Productions
2269 New St., Burlington
Box office: 905-637-3979 or drurylane.ca