The Slipper and the Rose

This was the Scottish Premier of ‘The Slipper and the Rose’, a musical twist based on the classic love story of Cinderella and her Prince Charming.  Although it should not be compared with a pantomime it still required a bit of magic and this production provided that. Set in the fictitious tiny European Kingdom of Euphrania, Prince Edward returns home from an expedition from the neighbouring Kingdom where he met the Princess Selena who his parents had arranged for him to marry.  However, on his return he announces to the King and Queen and a stricken Court that he will only marry for love and so the story unfolds. In this her second year with the Society, Suzanne Garner gracefully played Cinderella with great passion in particular when she sang of the Prince, “Tell him anything but not that I love him”.  As her inhospitable Stepmother, Lorna Wallace commanded the stage suitably modifying her character as she doted on her own two spoiled simpering daughters Isobella and Palatine played by Rachel Carter and Amy Sutherland.  Darren Tasker was a very fine Prince Edward who delighted the audience with his rich clear tenor voice, ably accompanied by Andrew Gibson as his companion John. The King and Queen were competently played by Malcolm McNulty and Carol Sutherland and Malcolm delighted the audience when he led his ministers and the company in the number 'Protocoligorically Correct'. Eric Brown made a suitably pompous Lord Chamberlain and Paul Clark provided great amusement in his characterisation as Lord Montague. Elizabeth Donald made an excellent Dowager Queen with her unexpected ‘one-liners’ and Shirley McNulty brought some magic to the stage as the Fairy Godmother. Although the musical numbers are not well known, this did not take away from the enjoyment of a well presented and directed show.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.