Cinderella, 1996

Well, it was certainly different! After the 1974 version, in which I played Buttons, and the 1988 production with Reg Anderson, it was doubtless time for a break from tradition - and we got it! The scenery was excellent - representative rather than realistic - Dandini was played (well) by David Sykes - mostly in jeans and a leather jacket - and for some reason there was a (fairly realistic, but flatulent) pig played by Jan Szafranski, who drew Cinderella's coach - which unfortunately fell to pieces on the Thursday night performance which I and my wife attended.

At the risk of offending several people I must protest at the scatological content of much of the humour. Though it may be the "in" thing on TV, from Ben Elton downwards, it didn't amuse us at all and was, I thought, quite unsuitable for children., who hardly need encouraging to be rude. The fact that it elicited quite a number of hoots from the audience doesn't excuse it, in my opinion.

But it was a lively, fast-moving show, and Fiona, the Director, was well-served by her cast, the sound and lighting effects 'persons' and the small but adequate orchestra under the direction of Alma Pitcher. I must admit I was originally put off by the "warning" of rock music, but in fact found it all listenable, with several very nice songs well put over, and if fault there was it was in my being too old to recognise many of the tunes (and one always likes to come away from a panto humming at least one familiar tune).

To be more positive, let me list some of the things I particularly liked about the show:-

(1) The costumes were superb, with masses of colour and glitter.

(2) The Ugly Sisters (Chris Mikami and Gary Pollak) were on top form, looked great (especially in their first appearance in one huge dress), had a lot of fun, and communicated this to the audience.

(3) Buttons (James Peacock) was very good and worked hard all the time. My only criticism, of him, and of the Ugly Sisters, was that they 'worked' the audience too hard - a little participation goes a long way, chaps.

(4) A lot of good work by Alison Campbell as the Chief Witch and Thea Pitcher and Eleanor Kirk as her two young assistants, dexterous on roller-skates, full of fun and in good voice.

(5) The spider's costume - was it hired, or who made it? And it was well played by Chris Goodwin.

(6) The 'Blind Date' take-off towards the end - a novel way of presenting the search for the "foot to fit the slipper."

Fiona and her cast, and all her helpers (including Joan Oliver and her helpers) are to be congratulated on carrying on the tradition and providing a great deal of pleasure and entertainment to Woldingham. Most performances were played to packed houses, which speaks for itself.

JFS