Cinderella the Pantomime

The ‘Cinderella’ storyline is so well known - the quintessential ‘rags to riches’ folk tale and a favourite of many children and a personal favourite of mine! I have spent the best part of forty years being involved in the production and staging of pantomimes and the last twenty four consecutive years playing a pantomime dame - ‘Oh No you haven’t, Oh Yes I have’, so I think I can honestly say that ‘pantomime’ has become part of my life!  So when I read in the Director’s Programme Notes (Andy Burke and Steven Catterall – Writers/Director’s) that they had spent the last two years working on the script and given the story a ‘twist’ whilst retaining the essence of the plot...being a bit of a ‘Traditionalist’, I will admit, I was a little apprehensive!  

With the theatre packed to the rafters and an atmosphere of ‘excitement and anticipation’ raging around those present... as instructed, I sat back and waited for things to unfold!

It was obvious from the start that Andy and Steven had gathered together a great cast who were obviously working together to produce a great pantomime!

The ‘star’ of the show was without doubt Robert Walsh playing the role of ‘Buttons’.  Robert just oozed stage presence from his first entrance. ‘Boundless energy’, great ‘comedic timing’ and ‘easy natural rapport’ with the audience, he looked totally comfortable with this role which he made it his own.  Just loved his rendition of ‘So Macho’... well done young man, be ever so proud! 

Natalie Aspinall made a lovely ‘Cinderella’, a ‘perfect fit’ for this iconic role!  Natalie stayed in character throughout; she had great diction, great singing voice and worked really well with all the cast members... well done!   

Our ‘Ugly Sisters’ - ‘Veranda’ and ‘Rotunda’ played by Alan Levesley and Stephen Clipston - oh what joy and sadness ‘Uglies’ can bring to this storyline and in Alan and Stephen we found two guys on top of their game!  Stage presence, comedic timing a plenty...loved the slap stick and the one liners... individually great,  together as a duo ‘outrageous’ just as you would expect... congrats, job well done!

Not one ‘duo’ but two.... Laina Grimshaw-Brown and Olivia Chandler got together as Ewann and Meann to make a great ‘comedy duo’.  Both had great comedy timing, great stage presence... and again, individually great, together...‘hilarious’!  Well done girls!

Rebecca Moran made a wonderful ‘Dandini’... another with great stage presence.  Mannerisms, facial expressions, great comedy timing...again looked totally comfortable in this role... well done!

We then came to our ‘baddies’... our ‘evil stepmother’ was played really well by Libby Burke.  Great characterisation, great facial expressions and mannerisms... a well judged performance and appeared to ‘revel’ in the ‘boos’ from the audience...well done!   Our first little change.... Dominic Nolan played our ‘Prince Charming’ well... BUT he wasn’t as ‘charming’ as one would have expected!   His intentions toward ‘Cinderella’ were not honourable and he appeared to be working alongside ‘The Evil Stepmother’ to somewhat thwart ‘Cinderella’ ...Oh no he wasn’t....Oh yes he was!

Completing the cast were David Hartley who played the Narrator really well. David also turned out be ‘Cinderella’s’ – ‘Fairy Godmother’. Imogen Hackett did a really good job playing the role of Catherine. 

Last, but certainly not least, our ‘dancers’....(OUR JUNIORS) Aleese Derbyshire-Makinson, Ameera Bakhit, Ebony Bleakley, Freya Hollingdale, Grace Dolan, Hermione Jones, Scarlett Woods, Sienna Kershaw...(OUR INTERS) Layla Clarke, Laila Wilson, Millie Wells and Natasha Adamson (OUR SENIORS) Lily Ridway, Lucy McErlain Hargreaves, Myah Brookfield, Olivia Gillett, Rosie Macaree and Susanna Garrett. Loved the dance routines...well done young ladies and well done to Rebecca Dickenson (Choreographer) for devising routines which suited her dancers and which enhanced the show...well done.

To summarise the pantomime and its twists:  if I’m honest, I wasn’t too sure about the opening. The ‘video’ of individuals suggesting they were going to a ball and references to Chorley Little Theatre...not at all sure!  But, what I was sure about was that everybody on stage had given their all by the end...Good had overcome Evil... and I’d seen and enjoyed a really good pantomime with some interesting characters being played! The major twists involved ‘Buttons’ being an ‘exiled prince’ and was in fact the actual heir to the throne and not Prince Charming...Oh yes and then Button’s marrying ‘Cinderella’... and finally the ‘Uglies’ befriending and helping ‘Cinderella’ to thwart their stepmother! 

So congrats to Andy Burke and Steve Catterall (Writers/Director’s) two years not wasted guys!  Well done to Paul Carr (Musical Director and Tech Design) for his Musical and Technical expertise.  To Rebecca Dickinson (Choreographer), congrats for some simple yet great Choreography that played to the strengths of her young dancers.

To Shaun McManus (Stage Manager), his Back Stage Crew and his Set Builders congratulations on a job well done. The set worked well, enhanced the show and was handled well throughout. Sound was excellent throughout, but we did have a couple of issues with the lighting early on, but this did not affect the overall performance.

We had some great costumes and some great props...congrats to Sandra Dickinson, Susan Kennedy and Rebecca Moran respectively.   

Finally, thanks to Chorley Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society for inviting my wife and I to their pantomime. We really enjoyed it and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.

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