Cinderella

Excellent colourful scenery, beautiful costumes and well cast principals certainly brought out the best of the story line of Keith Marsden and Geoffrey Rundle’s script ensuring that it was an evening of fun and enjoyment, which was much appreciated by the audience on a snowy night!

Brogan Hollindrake was a delightful Cinderella with the looks and voice and definitely the ‘sympathy vote’ for her treatment throughout, and how fantastic was that “transformation” into the ball gown?  It certainly had the audience around me guessing how it was done!

Everyone loved her best friend Buttons, played with great energy and good comedy timing by Philip Smith.  He was ideal in this role.  I particularly liked the “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” number by Cinderella and Buttons, using all those props from Hardup Hall’s scullery – ingenious!

The suitor Prince Charming, played by Stephanie Laycock, created a lovely partnership with Cinderella.  The other half of the ‘boys’ in disguise was Alice Chapman as Dandini.  They exchanged their roles perfectly and generally added to the fun throughout.

The Fairy Godmother (Katharine Hickman) worked her magic in her own sparkly way and kept the story line going to the right conclusion.

Davin Brett gave a lovely performance as Baron Hardup.  He and Buttons had a great comic scene trying to sweep the chimney at Hardup Hall, and they worked really well together.

What can be said about Deirdre (a very ugly sister) and Josephine (an even uglier sister)?  With their amazing costumes, makeup and OTT personalities with great comedy timing, Paul Bamber and Paul Jennings worked so well together in every scene in which they appeared as the step sisters that no-one should have to endure.  Weren’t they adorable?!

Rick Gardner and Mark Rundle worked well too as the two debt collectors Snatchem and Grabbem.  You couldn’t help but feel sorry for them when they were lumbered with Deidre and Josephine!

There were good company numbers with energetic choreography by Judith Chapman throughout the production.  The “Kiddies Chorus” in particular were so well drilled.  There was great enthusiasm from everyone on stage which meant that his was a lively rendition of the pantomime in true tradition.

Congratulations to John Sandland (Musical Director) and his band, who certainly kept the momentum of the musical numbers going at a great pace, and played sympathetically so that everyone could be heard.

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