Prince Charming

Panto! Theatrical fun for all the family. This was in abundance during the matinee of Audley Theatre’s home written ‘Prince Charming’. This traditional genre is still loved and watched each season and Audley Theatre certainly entertained their audience.

With an abundance of colourful Dame costumes, jokes a plenty, the notorious baddy and a smattering of audience participation, this story, written by Wendy Brough, worked well as a great twist on the traditional Cinderella tale.

A simple, suggestive set gave the audience time and place, the eclectic set of shoe prints and the use of the shoe shop accentuated the tag line ‘all about the shoes’. The ugly sister partnership was an inspired change to tradition and I must say Martin Thomas looked very comfortable in his outrageous costumes. Kate Quick, as Grizzella, was the perfect comedic baddy. Rachel Hopkins as Cinderella performed as a more edgy and up to date Character and Martyn Kerr, as the prince performed with real ease and had a great stage presence and interacted well with the audience. King Charlie and Queen Philomena were a great double act and the Godmother, or should I say ‘Godfather’ (Anna Jones) and Fairy (Heidi Condliffe) joined the various scenes together well and ensured the storyline had a flow and consistency.

The art of comic delivery is a difficult thing to teach and I often felt the script, and the delivery of jokes, appeared a little over rehearsed which meant a natural flow was missing and the company needed to relax into it and appear a little more ‘off pat’ as if telling the joke for the first time or ad libbing.

The principal characters were complimented by a group of youngsters delivering basic choreography to punctuate musical numbers. Careful thought had gone into song choices although I was a little surprised to be asked to sing so early in the performance and the David Bowie tribute may have been lost among the younger members of the audience and did not seem in keeping with the genre or storyline.

Well done to all involved in this high spirited and engaging production.

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