Cinderella

‘Cinderella’ is a pantomime in the traditional British style scripted by Stephen Quinn. It is a Stephen Lee Production that is being performed by the Playlovers Group at Hackett Hall, Draper Street, Floreat. All shows are at 7.30 pm until 18^th December, with matinees on December 11^th and 18^th at 2.00 pm. 

        In the woods near Tiny Hampton, a Fairy Godmother (Jenny McCann) appears and turns all of the audience adults into children - to ensure the fun pleases us all. Then we go into the village to be welcomed by an enthusiastic and colourful chorus, singing and doing a Morris dance.
        Buttons (David Gregory) arrives and spills his frustration at his unrequited love. He is in love with Cinderella (Grace Edwards) but as yet she has not found anyone who can set butterflies flapping in her stomach.  Cinders is very poor and when the two Brokers men (Stephen Lee and Martyn Churcher) arrive to collect money owed by her father, Buttons manages to con them into going away empty handed.
        In Stoneybroke Mansion Cinder’s dad, Baron Hardup (Jason Seperic), has arrived with his new wife, the miserable Malodera van Bjitch (Kerri Hilton, character acting? milked the boos superbly). From the start Buttons and Cinders can see that she is just a money grabbing witch, but when she introduces her ugly daughters, the bearded Salmonella (Grant Malcolm) and tasteless Dyspepsia (Barry Park) they know their life will be tough.
        A troupe of entertainers arrives in the village and performs ‘The Sleeping Beauty’. The narrator (Shaun Thompson) reads out the hilariously written tale of the King (Jesse Leonard), his Queen (Brooke Batka) and how the wicked witch (Dominique Fletcher) curses their daughter. Of course Malodera is not amused when the Princess is awoken from her long sleep.
        The handsome Prince Charming (Laura Djanegara) is out for a walk in the woods, being fed up with people grovelling to him, he wants to see what life is really like and so exchanges clothes with his thigh-slapping chum, Dandini (Krysia Wiechecki). Cinders meets this man called Dandini and her stomach flutters. Will true love be found? Go on, have a guess.
 
This is one of the most traditional pantomimes that I have seen in years, and it worked beautifully. Right from the opening curtain with strong singing, under the musical direction of Eliot McCann, the bright smiling villagers (superbly dressed by Merri Ford and Maddy Connellan) welcomed the audience. The songs were well known and this always helps the audience connect. The dancing was in sync, a rarity in a chorus, and with big smiles from the performers as they gave it everything (choreography - Rhoda Lopez).
Right from the beginning, an effervescent David Gregory was brilliant at warming up the audience and then getting them into the ‘oh no it wasn’t’, ‘behind you’, ‘Boo’ and ‘Oooh’ mentality. Stephen Lee’s direction was inventive and filled with fun. The script had only a few adult puns and hidden jokes, it was very much a young children’s show and the kids loved it.
The sets were a little scant, but what was there was of a high quality and most effective (Caitlin White). Well lit by Joshua Veitch and John Woolrych and superior sound from Graeme Johnston.
Here we have several actors, renowned for their award winning, serious acting, saying ‘to hell’ and getting right into the fun side of the pantomime. Krysia was warned by a Broker’s man, ‘behave or you will go back to the Old Mill and Danni Ashton!’ The ugly sisters were superb.
The ‘Panto within a Panto’ last night was presented by the Waikiki acting school. Their performers ranged from about 14 years old down to a reluctant 3 year old elf. The acting schools change nightly, with groups coming from South Beach, Sawyers Valley, St Norbert’s, Armadale and even Kalgoorlie.
This pantomime has all of the traditional trimmings, but most of all it had very successful audience participation. In spite of the show being 150 minutes long, with such a brilliant cast even the youngest sat engrossed until the end. This is strongly recommended to all children over 4 or 5.