CINDERELLA by Greg Powrie and Michael Winter. Perth Theatre to 5 January.
Perth
CINDERELLA
by Greg Powrie and Michael Winter
Perth Theatre To 5 January 2002
Runs 2hr 35min One interval
TICKETS 01738 621031
Review Timothy Ramsden 20 December
A panto of restrained elegance and refinement, with good all-round production values.This must be what is meant by traditional pantomime – the kind which seems faintly old-fashioned, though probably incorporating all kinds of novelties picked up on panto's long annual path.
The scene – a pastelly gorgeous park from designer Louise Saunders – opens with a company dance number for the royal hunt and picnic. Visual elegance remains a keynote throughout and the ugly sisters (one, Verruca, played by co-author Greg Powrie, the other, seen performed by upgraded flunkey Neil Clinch, insisting her name's not Bunion but Bunny-Ann) are always more fall guys than threats.
No way more so than when they're seen fawning on the royal servant Dandini, believing he's the Prince as the real royal has swapped clothes, wanting to find out what real life's like. The nearest threat to the long-visible happy ending is the jealousy of Buttons, loyal follower of Cinders and not a little jealous when magic mysteriously sweeps in, lets his love go to the ball and be swept off her feet by a mix of Charming Prince and chiming midnight.
But so amiable is Derek McGhie's rapport with the audience, bounding in whenever the keen kids in stalls and circle tell him danger looms for the precious casket he's keeping, we sense he could never do anything dastardly to stand in Cinderella's red-carpeted way.
Of course, it could be thought her invite to him to live at the Palace is less the simple solution it seems than a hint of emotional trauma to come, but that's not trad. panto for you. What seems strange is the need to pad out events with a gratuitous account of the Emperor's New Clothes, a scene which seems to have come in off the streets and established itself on stage for no apparent reason.
There is a fine transformation to end act one, and the audience seized on the participation they were offered. Lots of young audience members found sudden new life when act two offered Buttons successively as Robbie and Geri. Perhaps one day they'll be part of traditional panto too. Or, there again, maybe not.
Dandini: Vanessa Clarke
Buttons: Derek McGhie
Verruca: Greg Powrie
Bunion: Alan McPherson
Baron Hardup: Martyn James
Cinderella: Kareena Dainty
Prince Charming: Samantha Saunders
Fairy Godmother: Caroline Hutton
Palace Flunkey: Neil Clench
Villagers/Palace Servants/Guests at the Ball: Caroline Brogan/Neil Clench/Sharon Coutanche/Rudi Gordon/Neil Gordon-Taylor/Jessica Punch
Village Children/Fairies/Frosticles: Emily Hood, Catriona Rutherford, Jennifer Low, Sarah-Louise McFarlane, Kirsty Scott, Laura Haydock/Gillian Crawford, Nicole Wardrope, Kirsten Longmuir, Kirsten Flood, Heather McLelland, Kirsten Gillies/Lucy Menzies, Lauren Morton, Rachael Bissett, Carolyn Clark, Jade Beatson, Debbie Campbell.
Director: Michael Winter
Designer: Louise Saunders
Costumes: Jason Denvir
Lighting: Simon Sewell
Sound: Geoff Minto
Choreography and Musical Staging: Angela Hardcastle
2001-12-31 12:00:15