‘Strictly Magical’ screamed the posters for the panto Cinderella that opened at the Mayflower in Southampton this week. They might equally well have stolen the catchphrase of its star Craig Revel Horwood – fab-u-lous – as that’s just what it was.

The Strictly Come Dancing star was in his element as Cinderella’s wicked stepmother Baroness Hardup, proving once again that he has a great set of pipes not to mention being divine in drag (that purple gown was to die for!).

As Buttons, Richard Cadell was superb. A top illusionist, comedian and Sooty Show supremo, with his puppet companions he kept the magic tricks coming along with the laughs at a relentless pace.

Packed with double entendres and camp as could be, the comedy cut across the age range as it should in a good pantomime. The little boys behind me were in hysterics, the middle-aged man to my side had tears of laughter rolling down to his Covid mask, while the woman in front of me was laughing so much I feared for her pelvic floor function.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Cinders was whisked away in a coach pulled by flying horses (oh, yes, she was!).

Debbie McGee was a delightfully dotty fairy godmother, looking great but adding a sprinkling of senior moments to the script, while Will Richardson as Prince Charming proved he was not just a pretty face but is blessed with a great voice and terrific comic timing.

There was not a weak link in the cast. From Cinders (Georgia Carr) to Dandini (Daniel Norford) and the ugly sisters Tess and Claudia (Catherine Morris and Suzie Chard) through to the dancers, everyone was top notch.

At the end, the audience needed no encouragement to get to their feet.

This Cinderella must rank as one of the best pantos ever (and I’ve seen a few, darling!).

Angie Owens