15th Dec 2022
It's Panto time again - infact it's been panto time for a while now but this has been my first opportunity to get along to one! Life has been getting in the way of any festive feeling of late, and though I admit to being a bit of a grinch when it comes to early festivities, I do look to panto time as the signal for the celebrations to start. So I have been grinchy for longer than usual this year! However, The Little Theatre is providing some much needed seasonal cheer this week with Lee Brannigan Productions' Cinderella!
This is pretty much a stock panto format - you'll find everything you would expect - goodies, baddies, fairy godmothers, silly songs, bad jokes, singing, dancing, ...and a happy ending! Sorry to give that bit away, but to be fair, if you don't know by now that pantos ALWAYS have a happy ending , then you simply haven't been paying attention!
So, Cinderella is living at Hard-Up Hall with her friend Buttons, her father has been away on a trip and has tragically died soon after remarrying. His widow and two daughters are returning to his ancestral home in Cannyville in the hope of claiming any riches her husband has left her. I can't help feeling she wasn't too bright if she thought someone called Baron Hardup was a good catch! But hey - this is panto, and we're suspending our disbelief over everything! Obviously Baroness Hardup and her daughters, Fanella and Stella are not impressed with Cannyville, or Hardup hall, or their new step sister Cinderella - not even the rhyming name impresses them. She is quickly despatched to the scullery and the new Hardups take over the hall.
Meanwhile, Prince Charming is out and about in the neighbourhood on a Royal Hunt, hunting not only a poor defenseless fox, but also a wife! Rivalry and hilarity ensue as the prince and Cinders fall for each other while the wicked step mother and sisters vie for his attentions. Devious plots are plotted, and heaven sent help from the fairy godmother saves the day.
Thrown into the mix are musical numbers, dance routines, scary puppets, cute puppets, and a huge hat or two. Obviously.
Bella Bluebell is fabulous as the very glamorous, wicked (in more ways than one!) stepmother, sashaying on stage in an array of sparkling and outrageous frocks and wigs. Her daughters Fanella (Megan Laing) and Stella (Melissa Cavanagh) bicker and backbite their way through the story in increasingly gaudy outfits. Kate Drysdale is a suitably sweet and forgiving Cinderella - I always find the heroine's a little insipid (not the fault of the actors playing the part, mostly it's down to the "tradition" of pantomimes) so it's a credit to Kate that she manages to make Cinders a little bit interesting, and she is also saved by a great singing voice for the musical numbers! Simon Stuart as the Prince, and Adam Davison as Dandini are a great pairing. Adam's facial expressions tell a great story! Perhaps the surprise voice of the show is Rosie Diaz who is quite reserved and quiet for a fairy godmother - but her musical numbers revealed a strong singing voice! Last but not least we have Buttons - always my favourite in Cinderella and Brodie Daniel did not disappoint! There was great chemistry between Buttons and the Fairy Godmother and between Buttons and Baroness Hardup. His physical humour had the audience in stitches - especially when he goes all wibbly-wobbly under the fairy godmother's spell.
We can't go without mentioning the dancers - no panto is complete without them - from Lee Brannigan Performance Arts Academy, CM Dance and Timeless Academy. A lot of dancers in a small space at times, all beautifully and skillfully choreographed by Chantal McCartney.
The show moves along at a cracking pace - the banter and one liners are nonestop, the jokes come thick and fast, and the singing is top class, not a bum note to be heard!
It's fun, it's saucy, it will make you laugh out loud, and at times you'll gasp and think that's a bit much - we shouldn't be laughing at that in a family show...but it's funny and if you can't get away with a bit of the risque in a panto, then when can you?
There are very limited tickets available, so if you're at a loose end one night next week grab one of the last remaining seats and go along to top up your festive spirit. Or, book now for next year's Beauty and the Beast to be sure you don't miss out! It'll be worth it - oh yes it will!
Denise Sparrowhawk
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