Cinderella

On walking into the foyer, I was immediately transported into the world of pantomime. The front of house was decorated wonderfully for Christmas and everyone was made welcome. We knew we were in for a wonderful evening.

The director Kev Woolnough is not new at this genre, and he gave everything to ensure that the audience enjoyed it. The moves of all the cast were obviously well rehearsed. The five piece band being positioned as it was on the left hand side of the stage (this theatre does not have a pit) could have very easily drowned out the cast. However they were very confident and they maintained a pleasant mixture and volume of music which did not detract from those performing on the stage. This was a classic Cinderella script and so there were no silly surprises, and the comedy routines which were the traditonal ones to be seen Cinderella productions was done very competently. In Cinderella the transformation scene is always a headache for directors. This director knew he did not have a large area to bring in a coach from the wings. However I believe he surprised the audience when - as Cinderella was transforming - the coach descended from above, wonderfully decorated in colourful lights, which made for a suitable end to Act 1.

As always with this society, we were treated to a mixture of experienced and not so experienced actors. It is very difficult to pull out anyone in particular. However Buttons played by Daniel Pattenden and Cinderella by Ellie Woolnough were superb in everything they did. Buttons consistently held the audience in the palms of his hands, and Cinderella from her first entrance, emitted an aura which was a pleasure to see. The whole evening moved at pace, the songs complemented all the lib, and I know that the audience left fully satisfied as to what they had just seen. I must also mention the society is very fortunate in that they have dancers from Staples School of Dance in Retford who take part. The two ballet scenes were of an excellent standard and I am sure that the society welcomes their continued support.

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