Review: You shall go to the Matzo Ball!
JW3's festive panto offers a warm, unapologetically British Jewish smorgasbord of laughs
“I’ve never been to a pantomime before”, my daughter excitedly tells me as we take our seats at the JW3 panto, Cinderella and the Matzo Ball. This isn’t actually true – her first experience of the silver stage was two years before, at the centre’s first-ever highly successful winter show, Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Pig, but then she was three – and as any five year old will tell you, three is just a baby, but five is old – “almost as old as you, Daddy”. So this year’s verdict will be the real proof of the pudding. Fortunately, baked goods abound in this production.
It’s a time of crisis in the Kosher Kingdom, with the realm in dire financial straits. Its ruler, the perilously impecunious Prince Charming, comes up with (or rather, steals from his aide) an idea – throwing a grand ball. And not just any old ball – a Matzo Ball, no less – in the hope of snaring a fantastically rich bride to prop up the royal finances. Meanwhile, poor Cinderella works herself to the bone for her siblings at the family store, Breadzinski’s in Yeast Finchley. How will she escape from her carb-heavy confinement? We move from the bakery, to the palace, to the far off unrecognisable country of Treyf, with marvellously designed sets and props accompanying us on the journey.
The production serves up a platter of bakery-related puns guaranteed to have the audience rolling (sorry) in the aisles. It is an openly, warmly, unapologetically British Jewish smorgasbord of laughs, in a time where laughter has been so sorely lacking. Nick Cassenbaum, the writer of the show, has said that he feels like “together we are building a tradition, a festive ritual, a yearly treat which… let’s face it, could only happen in the UK”. He is absolutely right, and it would be worth going for that alone.
But there is more to it than that – far more, because the incredibly talented cast are firing on all cylinders. As with any panto, audience participation is a must, but the cast were particularly quick on their feet, responding off-the-cuff to occasional heckles from one particularly forthright young attendee.
Talia Pick makes herself very much at home in the starring role, as a fresh-faced young Cinderella. Talya Soames shines as Moshe Pipick (or ‘Buttons’) while Rosie Yadid and Libby Liburd impress as the dastardly duo of clownishly wicked sisters, Milchig and Fleishig. Ronan Quiniou is the prince, with the full extent of his chicanery becoming gloriously evident in the production’s second half. Michael Cowan and Lillith Freeman excel in a variety of supporting roles, including First Aide and Lemon Aide respectively.
The cast further benefits from two special guest appearances – Debbie Chazen, who played fabulous roles in the 2023 and 2024 productions, swoops in as Cinderella’s Fairy Cake godmother, while BBC Radio 4’s Emma Barnett’s news updates are heard throughout as the voice of the “10 o’clock Jews”.
As you might expect, the show is peppered with Yiddishisms, but the programme provides a helpful glossary for both younger and non-Jewish attendees who might not necessarily be familiar with the full lexicon. Another lovely touch is that all the songs and music used in the show – played by a talented trio of musicians led by musical director Josh Middleton – come from tunes either sung by Jewish artists, written by Jewish composers, or both. This, inevitably, led me down a rabbit hole of delighted discovery (really? Carole King and Gerry Goffin wrote The Loco-Motion? Elvis’s Can’t Help Falling in love was co-written by George David Weiss? Howard Shore of Lord of the Rings theme music fame is Jewish?)
As we have come to expect from a JW3 panto, the ending will be a happy one, though not in an entirely predictable fashion. In the meantime, get ready for a shower of confectionery, as well as the appearance of giant balloons – both of which, as you can imagine, went down extremely well with the younger sections of the audience.
Speaking of which – I’m delighted to inform you that my five-year old was similarly enchanted by what she saw – and keeping my daughter consistently entertained for two one-hour stretches (the show runs to 120 minutes, with a small interval) is not an easy feat, which makes me wonder, as I write this, whether the full panto production offers house calls. There were gasps and giggles from the seat on my left, as well as some joyful and enthusiastic participation in the beloved “oh no he isn’t-oh yes he is” elements. I have a strong feeling that if I mention another trip this time next year, that suggestion will be very enthusiastically received.
“How many stars out of five shall we give the performance?” I ask, only to be told that the question is the wrong one. “Not stars, Daddy – bagels!” So there you have it – five bagels out of five, a ranking system which I sincerely hope catches on. A captivating cast and a spellbinding story, in the British Jewish community’s home away from home. See it if you can; regret it if you don’t.
Cinderella and the Matzo Ball runs until 4 January 2026 at JW3. Child’s tickets under 16. Under 2s do not require a ticket. jw3.org/panto
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