Slow start for Cinderella

This year's Christmas offering from London Bubble gets off to a worryingly slow start: too much plot and not enough pizazz threatens to lose its restless junior audience.

Our heroine Ella's mother Florence (Simon Thomson) is replaced by step-mum from hell Ruby (Dystin Johnson), whose accent careers from put-on posh to screeching Cockney. With her, of course, come the ugly step-sisters: bitchy Victoria and food-fixated Alberta (an excellent Rachel Essex).

Poor Ella (Minnie Crowe) is left talking to her pets until Florence's ghost appears to fill-in as Fairy Godmother and the action (and fun) picks up. Once Bubble regular Thomson gets on a roll he's a fantastic dame, with the charisma to win over the little ones and enough caustic asides for the adults.

Cornelius Macarthy has his work cut out as wimpy Prince Wilbert - especially when his plaintive solo is seen by a number as a good time to pop to the loo - but is still suitably charming.

An endearingly rickety set somehow adds to the delight but writer and director Jonathan Petherbridge really should have pared it down from a whopping two-and-a-quarter hours.

Until Jan 15, Greenwich Theatre, various dates 7pm, mats various times, £14 to £18, £5 to £7 concs. Tel: 020 8858 7755. www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk DLR: Cutty Sark

Cinderella