Two years ago, JW3 — London’s Jewish Community Centre — launched its first panto, Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Pig, proudly billed as the UK’s only Jewish pantomime. It was a smash, followed by the award-winning Goldie Frocks and the Bear Mitzvah. This year, they’ve upgraded the claim to “the world’s only Jewish pantomime” with Cinderella and the Matzo Ball. And you know what? They might actually be right.
Once again, Nick Cassenbaum is at the helm — the writer behind Bubble Schmeisis and Revenge: After the Levoyah. For his third panto, he tackles the most classic of classics but gives it the full Cassenbaum twist: it’s Cinderella, but not as any of us remember from childhood or even from the Hackney Empire.
The plot doesn’t need re-telling — Cinderella is baked into all of our collective DNA — but JW3’s version veers sharply off-piste. For a start, Cinderella (spoiler alert) doesn’t end up with Prince Charming (formerly Charminski — one of the better gags). Ronan Quinou plays him as a gloriously camp American, so frankly, it was never looking promising for Cinderella anyway.
We’re in the Kosher Kingdom, where Cinderella (Talia Pick) grafts away in the bakery while her ugly sisters boss her around — though Milchig (Rosie Yard) sounds like she’s wandered in from the Bronx and Fleishig (Libby Liburd) is pure Essex girl. Continuity? Logic? Forget it. It’s panto. Buttons appears too; his name is explained via a very convoluted Jewish etymology involving his pipik. (There’s a Yiddish glossary in the programme, though this audience hardly needs it.) He delivers for “Choppedliveroo,” which is, again, one of Cassenbaum’s better puns.
We also meet First Aide, Monsieur Croissant (Michael Cowan), and Lemon Aide, Pita Rabbit, and Beigel Streisand (Lillith Freeman), plus a hardworking three-piece band who get dragged into the action whenever needed.
The big problem? Cinderella and the Matzo Ball just isn’t up to the standard of its predecessors. Too many jokes feel like they escaped from a Poundland cracker and land with all the grace of a stale beigel. The set is bare-bones, the puppetry surprisingly pedestrian, unlike last year’s and even the numerous musical pastiches — from Cabaret, Oliver! and Fiddler on the Roof (all the music has Jewish connections) — lack the snap of previous years. Act One is oddly sluggish, though Act Two perks up once we reach the Land of Traif — the forbidden kingdom of bacon, prawns, and other tsuris-inducing delights. There’s a lovely moment when the sisters sing “We’re Secular” to the tune of Popular from Wicked.
The young cast work hard, though some performances don’t quite feel at a professional panto level. What’s really missing is the magic ingredient from the previous two shows: the incomparable Debbie Chazen. She’s on tour in China this year, appearing only via a pre-recorded video as Fairy Cake — not quite the same as having her big, bubbly presence live on stage. We also get a cameo voiceover from BBC broadcaster Emma Barnett, who reads out the news at various times, rebranded as Emma High Barnett and Emma Barnett Hospital etc.
In the end, Cinderella and the Matzo Ball is a little mechula (look it up) and more than a bit disappointing. Last year I gave Goldie Frocks and the Bear Mitzvah 5* and I was hoping for more of the same this year— but as you’ll see below, for this reviewer at least, Cinderella and the Matzo Ball Ball didn’t quite get the fairy-tale ending.
Review by Alan Fitter
The Prince of Kosher Kingdom requests your presence at the Matzo Ball!
Put on your classiest outfit, your glassiest slippers, and join us for a festive family pantomime like no other.
This brand-new, laugh-out-loud reimagining of the classic fairy tale brings magical mayhem, unexpected twists and a sprinkle of fairy tale fair to the JW3 stage. With live music, hilarious storytelling, and joyous surprises for audiences of all ages, it’s the ultimate seasonal treat.
CAST
Talia Pick – Cinderella
Talya Soames – Buttons
Rosie Yadid – Milchig
Libby Liburd – Fleishig
Ronan Quiniou – The Prince
Lillith Freeman – Lemon Aide / Pita Rabbit / Beigel Streisand
Michael Cowan – First Aide / Monsieur Croissant
BAND
Josh Middleton – Musical Director
Oliver Presman – Trumpet
Migdalia van der Hoven – Drums
CREATIVES
Abigail Anderson – Director
Becky Plotnek – Producer
Nick Cassenbaum – Writer
Yael Loewenstein – Choreographer
Amy Daniels – Lighting Designer
Jon Fiber – Sound Designer
Laura Hopkins – Designer
Libby Ward – Video Designer
CINDERELLA AND THE MATZO BALL
JW3, 341-345 Finchley Road, London NW3 6ET
7 December 2025 to 4 January 2026
