A box of Yiddishe delights awaits anyone lucky enough to get an invite to the Matzo Ball this festive season
Laughter erupts from the off as curtains part to reveal the onstage glitz and glamour of JW3's latest panto. The cast gyrates to the rollicking band playing ‘The Locomotion’ and, intriguingly, they're decked in a range of bread products, including tempting twists of challah, worn as outsize pendants.
The unofficial MC introduces ‘himself’ as Moishe Pipick – an alternative to the traditional Buttons, played with winning naughtiness by Talya Soames, her gleeful grin irresistible below a jaunty cap. 'Pipick' is Yiddish for belly button (geddit?) he explains, before directing us to "Yeast Finchley" (it’s a picnic of puns so bad they’re good). There we find the only bakery in the Kosher Kingdom (which, funnily enough, is a real supermarket in Golders Green).
Breadzinski (another play on a London stalwart, Grodzinski kosher bakery) is run by Cinderella and her sisters Milchig and Fleishig (Yiddish for meat and dairy, which mustn’t be mixed in a kosher kitchen). Rosie Yadid’s Milchig and Libby Liburd’s Fleishig are a terrific and terrifyingly OTT pair of harridans, scary visions in skintight, luridly-coloured leggings. Both delight in being mean and leaving all the baking to Talia Pick’s practical Cinderella, who seems to relish the task and is buddies with her bread loaves – including Pita Rabbit and Beigel Streisand (voiced by Lilith Freeman) – and even sings with them.
So far so very good, but the storyline is about to take an intriguing twist. Of course there’s a ball with invitations delivered to the kingdom’s maidens, including all three sisters. Cinderella gets to go, despite her sisters’ attempts to sideline her. With magical aid from Fairy Cake (JW3 panto regular Debbie Chazen, in digital form on screen as she’s currently on tour in China) and the bread buddies, she makes the ball, meets Prince Charming (né Charminski, naturally, and played by Ronan Quinio) and, just in time, remembers the strict warning to leave before Shabbat begins.
After dancing with the Prince, she loses a crystal slipper as she flees for home at sunset. The Prince retrieves it and sends First Aide (Michael Cowan) to find the girl whose foot it fits. But when the lovers reunite, will their story end happily ever after or in tears? Suffice to say, you won't be disappointed by the unexpected narrative, which leads onlookers to a terrorising giant prawn, a familiar looking prime minister (also played by Quinio) and a court news reporter voiced by none other than the BBC’s Emma Barnett.
The music is a special joy, from show-stoppers to stand-alone hits, all written by Jewish composers. The playlist includes 'One Short Day' from Stephen Schwartz’s Wicked, 'Reviewing the Situation' from Lionel Bart’s Oliver! and, very apposite, 'If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake' (Al Hoffman). It’s all led by MD Josh Middleton (accordion/trumpet), Oliver Presman (tuba/trumpet) and Migdalia van der Hoven (drums).
Shkoyach (Yiddish for bravo) to director Abigail Anderson, writer Nick Cassenbaum and all involved. Cinderella and the Matzo Ball is a fun-filled, raucous, unmissable delight.
By Judi Herman
Photos by Charlie Flint
Cinderella and the Matzo Ball runs until Sunday 4 January. Times vary. From £27 (adult), from £17 (child). JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk