Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella

When a group well known and respected for the quality of their plays decides to tackle a musical for the first time there is inevitably a little nervousness as you wait for the current to rise.

However, I need not have worried as Threepenny Theatricals delivered an excellent production of a show very rarely performed in Scotland in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella’. This was certainly no pantomime and the principals and ensemble alike delivered a first rate production.

From the first note of the overture the orchestra under the expert direction of David Lyle gave us a wonderful sound that help move the story along whilst at the same time providing sympathetic backing to solos, duets or full ensemble numbers. At no point did they ever drown anyone out so allowing the lyrics and music to tell the story.

Direction by Fiona Main and Simon Boothroyd, like the music, allowed the audience to follow the story clearly whilst ensuring the drama of the piece was never lost and the humour was allowed to shine through. With numerous scene changes this was a technically demanding show so hats off to the stage crew for working so hard to deal with some at times complex changes on what is a relatively small stage area.

Choreography by Louise Williamson was appropriate and enhanced the overall production. It was lovely to have the dedicated dancers augmented by principals and chorus alike for some of the bigger numbers.

The ensemble was in fine voice delivering beautiful harmonies whilst looking stunning in their various elaborate and appropriate costumes.

In the title role of Cinderella, Rebekah Lansley, was excellent with a beautiful voice who captured the many sides to the character. As Topher, Greg McCafferty Thomson was a dashing Prince determined to change for the good as he set about finding his true love. As chief ‘baddy’ Simon Boothroyd was commanding in the role of Sebastian always ultimately looking out for himself whilst coming across as being on the side of others. As the revolutionary Jean Michel Sebastian Davidson gave a rousing performance. As Madame, the stepmother, Elspeth Whyte was suitably nasty to Cinderella as she pushed for one of her own two daughters to marry Prince Topher. As her daughters Angie Fowler as Gabrielle, and Gillian Robertson as Charlotte combined well to keep Cinderella in her place whilst providing much of the humour of the show. The other principals completing the lineup were Neil French as Lord Pinkleton, Dorothy Johnstone as Lady of Ridicule, Lewis Boyd as Fox and Rob Hussey as Raccoon and all in their own way added to the production.

Well done to all involved in this production on and off stage for a most enjoyable evening at the theatre and for the warm welcome when I arrived. 

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