A strong cast who put heart and soul into the story

Pat Ashworth, The Stage

18 December 2009

I thought I'd heard all the panto gags, so hats off to the writers of this show for laments like, 'She was called Marinade. She left me overnight.' This is a jolly Cinderella, crystal clear and delivered by a strong cast who put heart and soul into the story.

They can sing too, and numbers like Tonight's Going to be a Good Night, What About Love, Footloose and Ghostbusters bring the stage alive. Sean Wilson was born to be Buttons and makes it look easy. Naomi Slater's willowy Cinderella has a goodness about her that never cloys and her Prince Charming (Daniel Brocklebank) is a man of intergrity. Nicole Davis's delightful novice Fairy Godmother lives up to her self-billing as multi-purpose and ever ready.

White Shetland ponies steal the transformation scene, and the mad film projection that is the Crazy Car Ride gets the ghastly Trinny and Susannah (Roger Darrock and Stephen Howe) on their bikes back to Hardup Hall. But credit again to the writers for giving every character a real part to play, so that Dandini (James Dangerfield) and Baron Hardup (Andrew Haynes) have plenty to contribute and do it with conviction. It's a thoroughly good show.