Cinderella

From the opening chorus number we knew we were in for a very colourful version of this ever-popular pantomime.  

The chorus, made up of WTG juniors, was excellent.  Everyone, even the youngest members, knew what they were doing and all coped with the songs and well choreographed dance routines with assurance and obvious enjoyment.  Judging by the confidence emanating from these young people there is obviously a wealth of talent coming up through the ranks in this society.

Fairy Godmother Daisy Barton set the story on course with sparkle as one would expect. Suitably beautiful as Cinderella, India Barton was very good, and had great affinity with Louis Prime as Buttons who, though obviously inexperienced, did well. Tim Bebbington as  Baron Hardup had a difficult on/off role but came into his own when facing up to his harridan of a wife.  Lauren Scarfe’s Baroness Hardup was wonderfully haughty as she rode rough-shod over all and sundry.  Completing this dysfunctional family was Alan Marston and Rob Barton as ugly sisters Trinny and Susannah and what a pair they were. They made an excellent duo flaunting their ‘beauty’ at every opportunity. I thought the beauty salon scene was hilarious and compliments to Sarah Bebbington (Britney) and Hannah Ridley (Miss Fitt) who controlled and handled that scene perfectly.

Away from the Hardup household we had the royal family and Dandini.  A couple often sidelined in panto scripts is the king and queen but here we had the excellent pairing of Ann Sherwood as the dominating Queen Prudence and Tim Brown as King Cornelius.   Together with that of the Herald (Tayler Quarrie) these were small roles but exceptionally well done. Abigail Weldon as the Prince was extremely good, as was the aptly named Emily Starr who shone as Dandini.  The talented Ms Starr was also responsible for the aforementioned choreography.  

Elsewhere, the costumes were excellent and the sets bright and colourful: the lighting was good but on the downside, at times, I found the recorded music overloud.  This happens so much nowadays with both orchestras and recorded music and I feel sad for casts who have put so much effort into learning songs which are then sometimes drowned out.

Director Kim Mitchell should be justly proud of her cast and production team. This was a great fun panto which did full justice to a good script.

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