Soho Cinders

I am a bit of a traditionalist and, having not seen it previously, I felt that Soho Cinders was always going to be a challenge for me.  However, thanks to some good, subtle, direction I was pulled in to this contemporary take on Cinderella with an adult mix of politics, sex-scandals and love being very much of today.

Launderette owner Robbie was splendidly performed by Joe Spence and he excelled in his big solo ‘They Don’t Make Glass Slippers’ with his super voice and acting ability.  His scenes with Christian Brodie, who nicely played London Mayoral candidate James Prince, were delightful and very sensitively handled.  Their ‘Gypsies of the Ether’ was excellent with their voices perfectly matching.  This relationship is central to the plot and could easily have been overdone.  It wasn’t.

I thought that Georgia Wormald was wonderful as Velcro, Robbie’s best friend and co-worker.  She has a lovely style, sensitive acting skills and a first class voice, showed off perfectly in ’Wishing for the Normal’.

The real comedy contrast in the show was provided by the “Ugly Sisters” Clodagh (Georgina Garton) and Dana (Rachel Adamson).  They were hilarious and shone brightly in ‘I’m So Over Men’ and ‘Fifteen Minutes’.

Hannah Wilson gave a competent presentation of Marilyn, Prince’s betrayed fiancée and her lovely voice was in good evidence in ‘Remember Us’ with James and ‘Let Him Go’ with Velcro.

Two extremely strong portrayals came from Luke Cardwell as William, the Mayoral candidate’s agent and Kevin Hickson as hard-headed businessman Lord Bellingham who was involved with Robbie.  The former’s ‘The Tail That Wags The Dog’ was really good.

The show is was narrated by Mizz Gavinia Edwards (Gavin Render) who was fun and welcomed the audience in the foyer prior to the performance.  As always with this society there was great backup for the more minor roles including Lucy Marshall as William’s assistant Sasha and Sally Hague as Sidesaddle.

Although there was a bit of shouting early on I really enjoyed the music which gave a super background to the production and the songs and movement were well accompanied by a five piece band.  The set, depicting the London’s Old Compton Street and surrounding areas, was very good and smoothly and silently moved.  Costumes were in keeping with the modern era.

It’s an edgy show which left the appreciative audience happy.

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