Cinderella

According to a survey less than ten years since, Cinderella is the most popular UK Pantomime. Armed with this knowledge and a Tom Whalley script up to its normal high standard it was clear why Westovians had chosen this for their annual panto.

Westovians are a talented versatile group equally at home in panto as they are in the gripping drama they produce.

On a chilly Tuesday evening I entered the lovely Pier Pavillion theatre to find I was surrounded by many friends all intent of enjoying themselves – and royally entertained we were which is a nice segue into Prince Charming and ‘his’ factotum Dandini (Emily Scott and Hannah Potter respectively). These two worked well together and bounced off each other in their dialogue. Prince Charming’s principal boy thigh slapping and swagger was there a-plenty whilst the look of sheer terror on the face of Dandini looked genuine when faced with the attentions of Fanny and Danni (Heather Scott and Drew Blenkiron) as Cinders’ step sisters – truly amoral and grotesque they stole the show in the scenes they dominated and made ‘Jack’, some poor unsuspecting member of the audiences life a misery (I’m sure he enjoyed the attention).

Buffer between the two stepsisters and Cinderella was Buttons played by Mathew Pegden who was the embodiment of what you expected Buttons to be. I can give him no greater compliment that to say he performed as supremely as the author of the script he was performing in as the same role.

Cinders ‘dad’, the Baron (Sharon Facinelli) gave a good performance as the doting father but ultimately henpecked husband and reminded me of ‘Cogsworth’ in Beauty and the Beast (but without the arrogance.)

Every pantomime needs a good Fairy (godmother) and in Sharni Sheridan they got one as she showed great compassion to Cinders but with a certain steeliness and determination. Her singing voice was good also.

The chemistry between Cinderella (Jessica Wells Auchterlonie) and her evil stepmum Baroness Vindicta (Rachel Craig) is a feature of every Cinderella pantomime and no more so than this one. Cinders was played with enough vulnerability but with a little feistiness and her signing voice powerful and tuneful.

Rachel as the Baroness excelled and emphasised her evilness by her calm but vindictive manner and reminded me of a cross between Margaret Thatcher and Deloras Umbridge from Hogwarts. Her headpiece wig was the largest I’ve ever seen.

Costumes were fabulous throughout, sound and lighting well balanced and music through the small combo led by Rhys Chambers excellent. Choreography styled by Helen Wilson and performed by a troupe of juvenile girls was bright and energetic. Direction by Bethan Amber Carr was splendid. (A little off piste note of Congratulations to Bethan who upon delivering her pre show notes on opening night went into labour and made a delivery of her own a few hours later…)

All in all a magnificent panto as we’ve come to expect from Westovians – well done.

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