Cinderella casts a spell over Aberdeen at His Majesty's Theatre's panto Flying into Storybroke on an enchanted star, she quickly set about making Cinderella's dreams come true - and winning the hearts of the audience in the process. The script played to Elaine's strengths and she took on popular songs with ease, such as an exaggerated cockney tribute to Adele and "Scotch" singer Gladys Nicht, who was joined by a couple of hair-raising backing dancers. Barbara Rafferty's return to panto land as Demonica, Cinderella's wicked stepmother, was good fun and it was great to see the old Rab C Nesbitt stars bounce off each other, particularly during the fur coat routine. However it did take some time for the audience to warm up their vocal chords to boo and hiss her evil ways, but with plenty of performances ahead, Demonica is sure to get her wicked point across this Christmas. Her tormented daughters Nessie and Morag, played by the ever brilliant Alan McHugh and Iain Stuart Robertson, were genuinely hilarious and serious kudos goes to the costume department for their incredibly imaginative costumes - which lit up the room in more ways than one. Jordan Young's adorably daft Buttons was once again a stand-out performance from the Fife actor, whose wobbly-kneed advances towards Cinderella gathered a fair few "awws" in his direction, which as one audience member put it, saw him placed firmly in the "friend zone." The eponymous heroine, played by Gillian Parkhouse, was a sweet but not overly saccharin Cinderella and her beautiful singing voice shone in a number of songs. In a refreshing break from tradition, the pantomime's ballad sung powerfully by Cinderella and Prince Charming (a very dashing Ross William Wild) was punctuated with a little comic interjection from a meddling Buttons and ensured that Everything I Do was more memorable than forgettable. Cinderella's duet with Fairy Mary during the magical transformation scene was uplifting and fun - but don't be distracted by the beautiful ensemble who danced around her as a seriously impressive costume change transforms the servant girl into the mysterious Princess Starlight. And as Cinderella was transported to the ball in a carriage drawn by a magical flying horse, the sense of wonder was clearly visible on the faces of the children in the audience, who waved enthusiastically as she travelled to make her dreams come true. As is the way with panto, there were a few fluffed lines, but the funniest slip up saw Buttons take a tumble in a huge wolf costume. In fact, it was only when the Ugly Sisters began corpsing on stage whilst trying to help him up that the audience realised it wasn't part of the script. But perhaps that is what makes His Majesty's Theatre's pantomime such a fantastic night out - the audience may be having a ball, but the real fun to be had is right on stage. Cinderella runs at His Majesty's Theatre until January 5 but you better be quick if you want to book tickets as they are selling fast - so you don't turn into a pumpkin. What do you think of this year's pantomime at His Majesty's Theatre?