Download the new logos for the programme and poster competition

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, the Musical

Author: Michael L.Avery

Information

Date
4th November 2015
Society
Hexham Amateur Stage Society
Venue
Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham
Type of Production
Musical
Director
Liz Gray
Musical Director
Robert Laws
Choreographer
Liz Gray & Elva Mason

This version of Cinderella is unusual.  It is written by two Americans who just happen to be, probably, the most popular creative team in musical theatre.  Conceived as a television special for Julie Andrews in 1957 it has a full Rodgers & Hammerstein score.  So, it is a musical, not a pantomime.  It is rarely performed and, as a result, the musical numbers are unfamiliar, unlike the songs usually interpolated into pantos. or, indeed, most other Rodgers & Hammerstein scores.

Almost, but not, all the characters expected in the pantomime version are present.  Those missing include Cinderella’s father (Baron Hardup), Prince Charming’s companion Dandini and Buttons.  That apart, the show follows the usual scenario with the usual characters.  Selina Mankin, who played Cinderella, has a very pleasant voice as does Beryl Amos who played her Godmother.  The Chorus at Hexham, as ever, is very impressive when singing together.  Mari Stewart, as the Stepmother, slipped into Miss Hannigan mode to be seriously unkind to her stepdaughter.  Janette Griffin and Hayley Olson were equally unkind as Cinderella’s stepsisters (not the Ugly Sisters in this version).  They, however, had one of the best songs to perform in duet, The Stepsisters’ Lament.  This trio created a formidable obstacle for Cinderella to surmount.  The only vaguely familiar number is Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful, sung effectively in duet by Cinderella and Kenny Toal as the Prince.

The orchestra, which seemed slightly larger than usual, kept the proceedings moving along at a brisk pace, under the reliable direction of MD Robert Laws.  Liz Gray’s first outing as a Director proved to be a very effective.  She was assisted with the choreography by Elva Mason who has, in the past, successfully directed shows at Hexham.  There were up to 29 chorus members who came into their own whenever they had the chance to sing together.  They provided a colourful backdrop for the action, in costumes provided by Alan Graham.  As always, I enjoyed my visit to Hexham.  There is, however, just something a little strange about Cinderella not being a pantomime.  That, together with unfamiliar songs, somehow, makes the show (not the performers) a little dull.  A little more magic, familiar songs and an injection of more humour might have perked it up.  My inadequate research seems to indicate that when the show was produced at the London Coliseum, starring Tommy Steele, it was adjusted for British audiences to be more pantomime-like, and additional Rodgers and Hammerstein numbers interpolated for him to perform.  It also seems he may have been playing Buttons, as the Prince was played by Bruce Trent.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.

Other recent show reports in the North region

Funders & Partners